1966 Walkout

In April of 1966, students protesting a weak curriculum, few books, and harassment staged a walk-out and strike at Northwestern High School. Sparked by a column in the school paper, they brought their demands to the school board. They created an alternative New Freedom School in St. Joseph's Episcopal Church. Karl Gregory, a Wayne State University professor, was principal of the freedom school.

23 Northern teachers signed a telegram in support. The school board capitulated two weeks later. They removed the principal, hired new, college-educated teachers, and added African-American studies courses.

In May 2011, the Mosaic Youth Theatre staged Northern Lights 1966, a play about the walkout. Semester in Detroit students helped research the story using materials from the Walter Reuther Library, and high school students performed the play.

Sources

• Play reprises student protest at Northern High. Detroit News. 11 May 2011.
• Semester in Detroit students’ 
research supports historical play. The University Record Online. 6 June 2011.