OUR HISTORY
In 1909, the Arizona legislature passed a law mandating that Arizona school children be segregated by race for their first 8 years of school. When Arizona became a state in 1912, they changed the wording of the law from "mandatory" segregation to "permissible to segregate."
HISTORY
Thank You!
Dunbar Pavilion's programming is made possible thanks to our supporters and sponsors. Visit our Partners page to view a full list of our partners.
CONNIE HILLMAN FAMILY FOUNDATION
THE DAVID AND LAURA LOVELL FOUNDATION
AMY ZUCKERMAN-SOLOMON FUND
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Hope is tenacious. It goes on living and working when science has dealt it what should be its deathblow.
— Paul Laurence Dunbar
What We've Achieved:
In 2008: funding from an $870,000 Pima County Community Development Block Grant and private donations, the first phase of building renovations.
Kitchen
Upgrades of the schools cafeteria kitchen to a commercial kitchen now leased for licensed public uses.
Board Room
Conversion of cafeteria to now serve as board room space leased for community meetings and private events.
Classrooms Conversion
The Dunbar Pavilion has converted several classrooms to be leased to businesses and organizations that align with its mission and values. These spaces are thoughtfully dedicated to supporting initiatives that foster education, mentorship, cultural preservation, and community empowerment.
Electrical
Upgraded electrical and plumbing
Entire Roof Replaced
Roof fully replaced for enhanced durability and protection.
Fire Alarm
Upgrade of fire alarm and sprinkler system.
Private Events
Gymnasium renovated for private event rental.
Meeting Spaces
With its rich cultural heritage and modern amenities, the Dunbar Pavilion offers the perfect setting for workshops, planning sessions, community events, and creative endeavors, fostering connection, collaboration, and inspiration.
The Transformation
Before 1909, Arizona schools were not segregated. Among Tucson's earliest schools were the Academy of St. Joseph (which opened in 1867), Drachman, Davis and Safford. In 1909, the Arizona legislature passed a law mandating that Arizona school children be segregated by race for their first 8 years of school. When Arizona became a state in 1912, they changed the wording of the law from "mandatory" segregation to "permissible to segregate."
Upon achieving statehood in 1912, Arizona incorporated this statute into state law, granting school boards broad discretion to segregate students as they deemed advisable.
This legal framework led to the establishment of segregated schools, such as the Paul Laurence Dunbar School in Tucson, which became focal points for the African American community during the segregation era
Once the Dunbar school opened it became a focal point for community activities. With the help of dedicated teachers and concerned parents, the children at Dunbar school managed to receive a good education despite the poor facilities and lack of resources. According to Willie Ernestine Hall-Fears, a former Dunbar student:
In the beginning, Dunbar had no auditorium, no real library, no cafeteria, and no gymnasium. The class books were used and handed down from other schools to us. Despite these inadequacies, there was among us an atmosphere of unity and ‘togetherness.’ We had African American teachers who were deeply motivated to teach us beyond our standard studies.
Prior to 1920, students graduating from Dunbar who wanted to continue their education were forced to teach each other in the old Roskruge School after classes for other students were done for the day. In the 1920's, this practice changed and students were allowed to attend Tucson High School. While the school contained students of both races, homerooms were still segregated and there were restrictions on their participating in many school activities. African American high school students generally participated in clubs and organizations sponsored by the African American community.
There were no legal restrictions on African Americans attending state universities and records show that many did attend. However African Americans were not permitted to live in school dormitories, or to eat in university dining halls. By 1932, students could eat in the dining hall, but other acts of discrimination were still evident such as lower grades on assignments and the inability to register for some classes.
In 1951, the Tucson schools voluntarily agreed to dismantle the segregated school system. Dunbar school was integrated in 1952 and renamed John Spring. This did not mean, however that African American students now had equal access to education. According to Ruben Salter, a Tucson attorney:
We [could see] where there were deliberate attempts to gerrymander school districts and assign students based on race and ethnicity. We wanted to eliminate assignment patterns and feeder patterns that continued to perpetuate a segregated system.
Attorney Salter led a team who pursued legal action against the Tucson School District on behalf of the NAACP. Their law suit was successful, and the attorneys, courts, NAACP and TUSD have been working together over many years to remove barriers, insure equity, and deliver a quality education to all students regardless of race.
