The Macon Newsroom

Roxy Theatre’s history brings new life to a Macon Black business district

Liz Fabian, Civic Journalism Senior Fellow • December 1, 2020

The old and rusted Roxy Theatre has been hiding in plain sight for decades near downtown Macon, but those who know its past are building a new future around it. Wes Stroud, a planner for the Macon Transit...

Have real estate agents contributed to Bibb school segregation?

Jenna Eason, Center for Collaborative Journalism • December 30, 2017

When Lisa Mayfield was moving to Macon 20 years ago, she told her real estate agent she was going to send her children to public school, but her agent advised against it. “We were strong supporters...

Class of 1977 recalls the early years of segregation

December 26, 2017

Members of Central’s class of 1977 were among the first Macon children to spend all or most of their school years in racially integrated schools. At the 40-year reunion, several Central High alums...

They were among the first to integrate. Here’s what Central High’s class of ’77 learned

Adam Ragusea, Center for Collaborative Journalism • December 26, 2017

Avis Felts and Fred Frost hadn’t seen each other since they graduated Central High School in Macon in 1977. But when they reunited at Healy Point Country Club at their recent 40-year class reunion,...

What would Bibb schools’ racial makeup be if everyone went to their zoned school?

Maggie Lee • December 20, 2017

These maps show roughly where Bibb children live and which schools serve them. Each dot stands for three children who lived within a small area called a “Census Block Group” in 2010. Elementary...

How do parents choose the right school for their children?

Center for Collaborative Journalism • December 18, 2017

The Center For Collaborative Journalism (CCJ) faculty, staff and students joined The Telegraph and GPB in a community engagement project that began in 2016 to examine our community’s experience with...

Kelly Neal

Mitch Jaugstetter and Paige Hill, Center for Collaborative Journalism • December 16, 2017

Kelly Neal works in Macon but lives in Jones County so her two children with intellectual disabilities can attend a public school that can accommodate them.

Christie Freeman

Jastine Alaan and Jiali Chen, Center for Collaborative Journalism • December 16, 2017

Christie Freeman is a mother of five raising one child of a different race. Freeman wants to raise her children in a diverse, integrated setting.

Sloan Oliver

Dylan Malamala and Sam Jacobs, Center for Collaborative Journalism • December 16, 2017

Sloan Oliver reflected on public education. Oliver lived in Macon-Bibb county but moved to Monroe County because of the quality of education.

Kristin Hanlon

Adelia Henderson and Jade Thompson, Center for Collaborative Journalism • December 16, 2017

Kristin Hanlon's family made a strategic purchase in the Rutland zone in 1999 to send her children to the public school of her choice.

Ann Tift

Noemi Griffin and Jessica Lee, Center for Collaborative Journalism • December 16, 2017

Ann Tift and her husband sent their four children to Stratford Academy. Tift urges we shift the blame for education inequality away from private schools.

Glenda Earwood Smith

Elzabeth Tammi, Center for Collaborative Journalism • December 16, 2017

Glenda Earwood Smith, the former dean of students at Wesleyan College, believes Macon has a good public school system that has improved under its current leader.

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(Dis)Integration

We held public forums to explore the history of public education in Macon-Bibb and surrounding counties to better understand this trend and to hear from community members.

They discussed the current problems and talked about possible solutions. Over the last two months, CCJ video and audio students worked in teams to revisit some of the voices we heard in the project’s community forums.

Students interviewed members of Monroe, Jones and Macon-Bibb counties. They began with the question, “What was your experience with race and schools?” The subjects provided varied perspectives, personal stories, and their hopes for the future of race and education in Middle Georgia.