North Carolina Association of Black High School Alumni Closing Message We want to thank the contributors of the histories and additional materials that we have included in this first publication. The stories provide a historical road map of the progressions achieved through our segregated black schools. These schools were really a home-away-from-home. The principals, teachers and staff cared dearly for the students and their success. As most of the students were of farming families, the spring and fall of the year were the most challenging times for these students' education. Growing up on the farm, the spring of the year was the planting season, and the fall of the year was the time to harvest. This made it nearly impossible for many of the students to keep up with their studies. However, these students were determined to succeed. They did whatever was necessary utilizing family, schoolmates, teachers and coaches to make up missing assignments to graduate successfully.