Grand Rapids South High School

      Grand Rapids South High School first opened its doors to the public in 1917, housing students from 7^th all the way to 12^th grade. South High was notorious for its particularly honorable standards graduating some of the prominent figures in our nation’s history including none other than President Gerald R. Ford himself, graduating with the class of 1931.[1] Unfortunately, as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was put into action, not very many people at South High were as keen on the idea of integration as some may have hoped. Over time, the formerly “elite” public High School found itself on the edge of the red-lined neighborhoods in which African Americans were forced to reside, therefore causing the African American population of the school to raise to 30% during the 1960s.[2] These students were met with an abundance of racial discrimination based upon appearance and dress code, sparking what we would soon know as, the Mustache Saga. Today, the building still stands as it is currently home to the Gerald R Ford Job Corps Center, named after the famous graduate.

[1] Ashcroft, “‘The Spirit of South High’ | 50 Years after Closing, Legendary School Still Teaches.”

[2] Eric, “Episode 50: ‘a City within a City’ – the Mustache Saga.”

The 1960s, falling in line with the majority of the 20^th century, saw a significant amount of change for a wide array of Americans from all walks of life. An astounding quantity of thought-provoking moral questions were being asked of Americans as a united body on a daily basis. From 1955 until April of 1975, the United States was engaged in a war against Vietnam on the basis of preventing the spread of communism. The nation sent our youngest fighting force in U.S. history to Vietnam, not only to fight a people, but to fight an idea. At the same time back in the U.S., throughout the 1960s an abundance of social movements emerged that questioned the authority that governed our nation and the people who lived there. Of these social movements, we most notably recognize the Black Power movement and African Americans’ fight against discrimination. With the Civil Rights Act of 1964 legally abolishing all forms of segregation on the basis of race or sex there was improvement towards equality and equity, yet still not quite enough, causing the Black population of America to take matters into their own hands. The courageous acts of protest and constant fight against discrimination from the African American population without a doubt, played a substantial role in the diversification and equity of Americans across the country, and especially at Grand Rapids’ South High School.

           South High School first opened its doors to the public in 1917 to students in grades 7^th through 12^th. The school quickly gained traction as one of the more prestigious and elite schools in the surrounding area. Additionally, it became commonly known for graduating many important figures still recognized and honored today such as two of its most famous alumni: “President Gerald R. Ford, who graduated in 1931, and world-renowned singer/songwriter Al Greene who graduated in 1966.”[1] Throughout most of the school’s history, South High presumably had little to no diversity as did almost all schools during this time period due to segregation. Nevertheless, this all began to change during the 1960s with the end of legal segregation. As the 1960s progressed the red-lined neighborhoods in which black people were forced to reside inched closer and closer to South high school. This steady push resulted in the integration of South High School over the next couple of years, accounting for a 30% increase in Black students in South High.[2] While it might seem like a more integrated community would help stop the issue of this casual discrimination, racism didn’t go away so easily.

The struggle and hardship the African American community had to go through during integration is often quickly glossed over. “In the mid-1960s, the black community in Grand Rapids and across the nation, [were] organizing for more rights, more freedom, and more power. It is within this context that the Mustache Saga takes place.... Beginning with the 1966 school year, we begin to see students engaged in their own forms of resistance, that were both political and cultural.” Black students at South High began to protest against a crackdown on dress code and appearance that included a ban on mustaches, which many felt were an important part of their culture.[3] This eventually culminated in a student walkout at South High of about 400 students joined by other adult members of the black community, as well as several college students from Grand Valley State University. This essentially sent the Grand Rapids School board in turmoil trying to find reason and justice for their alleged insubordination.

           The decision to make such a bold stand against discrimination is truly remarkable and honorable considering what was at stake for many of these young African American students. Many of them putting their entire educational and athletic future on the line, such as for basketball star Cleo Cross. “As a junior the previous year, Cross led South High in rebounding and was also the basketball team’s third-highest scorer.”[4] Cross’s refusal to shave his mustache eventually got him, along with 4 other students suspended, putting his basketball season at risk. By the time he and his mother decided to return to school the season was virtually over, costing him his dream of a college basketball scholarship and a higher education. Cross’s sacrifice along with numerous other African American students made a significant impact on the direction of the community as a whole, and the fight against discrimination.

           Overall, the efforts from the African American community made, and continue to make, a substantial effort towards the fight for equality and equity. Whether these were huge prominent figures, such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, or small acts of protest, such as the efforts of the Mustache Saga at South High, every single contribution helped lay the groundwork for a better and more inclusive future for our country and its minority groups. The year following the Mustache Saga in 1969 the school was unfortunately closed as the court found the school guilty of lack of integration of their staff. Therefore, the district was forced to split up its groups of African American students and teachers to the other surrounding area high schools in an attempt to better diversify and integrate the area.[5] In the years following, the building continued to serve its educational purpose only as a middle school following the dismantling of its upperclassman. Furthermore, even today, the building still stands after finally closing its educational doors in 1981 and is currently occupied by the Gerald R Ford Job Corps Center.

[1] Ashcroft, “‘The Spirit of South High’ | 50 Years after Closing, Legendary School Still Teaches

[2] Eric, “Episode 50: ‘a City within a City’ – the Mustache Saga.”

[3] Smith, “The Mustache Affair in Grand Rapids, as Reported on by the Commercial Media in 1966.”

[4] ‌Robinson, A City within a City, 103

[5] Ashcroft, “‘The Spirit of South High’ | 50 Years after Closing, Legendary School Still Teaches.”

Western Michigan University. “WMU-Cooley Student in Praise of a Taste of Soul and Legacy of South High School.” n.d. Info.cooley.edu. Accessed August 17, 2023. https://info.cooley.edu/blog/wmu-cooley-student-in-praise-of-a-taste-of-soul-and-legacy-of-south-high-school.

Ashcroft, Brent. 2018. “‘The Spirit of South High’ | 50 Years after Closing, Legendary School Still Teaches.” WZZM13.com. May 21, 2018. https://www.wzzm13.com/article/news/local/michigan-life/the-spirit-of-south-high-50-years-after-closing-legendary-school-still-teaches/69-556594440.

‌Robinson, Todd E. 2013. A City within a City. Temple University Press.

Eric. 2019. “Episode 50: ‘a City within a City’ – the Mustache Saga.” The Antioch Podcast. March 5, 2019. https://antiochpodcast.org/podcast/episode-50-a-city-within-a-city-the-mustache-saga/.

Smith, Jeff. 2017. “The Mustache Affair in Grand Rapids, as Reported on by the Commercial Media in 1966.” Grand Rapids People’s History Project. June 18, 2017. https://grpeopleshistory.org/2017/06/18/the-mustache-affair-in-grand-rapids-as-reported-on-by-the-commercial-media-in-1966/.