The second day of the reunion included a fun filled at Magnolia Park in Upland. Shown above from (left to right) is Roselyn Gonzales (Overstreet); class of 1980, Mryna Overstreet; class of 1982 and Elaine Ellison; class of 1981
Ms. Evangeline Lewis was one of the first Black teachers at San Gorgonio in 1969. She was the only former teacher to attend the multi-year reunion. She is shown above with one of her former students Denise McCarthy class of 1976.
Former San Bernardino City Unified District teacher Evangeline Lewis (right) attended the second day of the reunion festivities at the park. She is shown above with her two daughter Susan Lewis (left) class of 1983 and Andrea Ellison (center) class of 1984
A group of old friends and classmates pose for a picture during the dinner of the Inland Empire Multi-Year Reunion. In the photo several different graduating classes are represented including the class of 1980, 1982, 1984 and 1985.
The second Inland Empire BSU Multi-Year High School Reunion was held recently, and the event turned out to be a huge success. The two day reunion included events in Ontario and Upland. The dinner was held on Saturday night in Ontario, followed by a fun filled day at Magnolia Park in the City of Upland.
The BSU Multi-Year Reunion is more than just a good time where long time high school friends gather and reminisce about years past. It’s also a time to celebrate accomplishments, growth and recognize how far we have come as a people.
Hosted and organized by the Alumni BSU of San Gorgonio High School (San G), the reunion committee did an amazing job with discussing the history of the Black Student Union (BSU) and how they came to be. They recognized the struggles of the early 1970’s, and the difficulties they experienced being bused to San G from the Westside of San Bernardino as young students. Then the group celebrated how far we have come, and also recognized how far we still have to go.
Bobby Hosea, class of 1974, San G gave a brief history of the Black Student Union (BSU), taking it back to Stokely Carmichael and the Black Campus Movement, a student-led effort during the Civil Right Movement and Black Power Movement on the campus at San Francisco State University in 1966. The BSU was formed to protest racist practices in higher education, advocate for Black studies programs and faculty, and create inclusive spaces for Black students. The BSU provided a platform for Black students to demand systemic change. The BSU offered a sense of community and inclusion that is still effective today.
San G was established in 1965. Evangeline Lewis was one of the first Black teachers at San G arriving is 1969. Lewis helped form the BSU at San G, serving as an advisor and fighting to make sure Black students were represented and treated fairly. She recalled a story where she had to intervene in a situation regarding cheerleading tryouts. A young Black student out performed many of her counterparts during tryouts, but in attempt to keep her off the cheerleading squad the judges attempted to lowball her scores. Lewis stepped in to make sure the judging stayed above board. Her involvement made sure Ann Green was one of the first Black cheerleaders at San G. Lewis was the only former teacher to attend the reunion. She expressed how great it was to see her former students who were teens at the time excelling and doing well. Many of her former student are now parents, grandparents and even great grand parents. She sat with many of them reminiscing about their time at San G. They all expressed how happy they were to see her, letting her know she was their favorite teacher on campus.
Many Black students that attended San G were bused from the Westside of San Bernardino. The white parents on the Eastside weren’t happy that their white school was being integrated. Linda Hart recalled a story about her experience when a group of white adults were throwing rocks at the buses yelling at the young students “nigger go back to where you came from,” she remembered.
Carolyn Tillman, a former San Bernardino City Unified School District employee gave a brief presentation about the Bridge Project. She touched on the history of San Bernardino, the Valley area east of Waterman the role the Black community played in developing the City of San Bernardino. She welcomed those in attendance to add to the history with stories of their own.
In addition to the good time that was had, it was also a time to reflect on where we started and what we have accomplished up to this point. The event of former high school kids was filled with professionals. In attendance were lawyers, doctors, business owners, actors and other professionals including teachers. The reunion attendees came from all across the Nation to be a part of this event. People came from Washington DC, North Carolina, Georgia and Texas to see old classmates. The Inland Empire schools that were represented include San G, Pacific and San Bernardino High School. The committee members are hoping more school participate in the future.
