Atlanta's David T. Howard Middle School celebrates 100 years
David Tobias Howard was born into slavery in Crawford County, Georgia, in the mid-1800s.
As a teenager, he was freed from bondage.
Howard eventually moved to Atlanta, establishing himself as a prominent businessman and philanthropist by the end of his days.
“[He] met and performed every duty and obligation of the highest citizenship calmly and courageously,” a friend said when he passed.
An essential part of that mission was ensuring that Black children could get an education in the Jim Crow South.
In the 1920s, Howard donated some land for a school that was eventually named after him. David T. Howard Middle School celebrated that 100-year milestone this month.
For the students, alumni and faculty at Howard, celebrating 100 years is a testament to the school’s tenacity. The journey has not been easy.
In 1976, Howard was shut down for decades. It just opened its doors again in 2020.
“I have not been in this building since 1967 when I had my last homeroom class,” said Ruth Freeman at this month’s celebration. Freeman taught at Howard from 1961-1967, when it was a high school.
“My first homeroom class was in 1961, and I was privileged to have Walter “Clyde” Frazier in my homeroom,” she continued.
The NBA Hall of Famer is just one of Howard’s many prominent Black alumni. Martin Luther King Jr., Maynard Jackson and former Atlanta police chief Eldrin Bell were all Howard students as well.
Bell also attended the celebration this month.
“I got registered to vote right here at David T. Howard,” he told the crowd of teenagers packed into the school’s auditorium. “I still vote. Those are the kinds of things that I want to leave with you young people.”
The celebration was full of moments like this, giving alumni a platform to share their experiences and reflect on Howard as a cornerstone of Atlanta’s Black community.
QuoVadis Evans graduated from Howard in 1968.
She said it means a lot to see Howard standing today because of how much is changing in the communities around it. Howard is just blocks from Martin Luther King Jr.’s childhood home.
“It concerns me that we have so many people coming in and they’re taking away the face of Atlanta,” she said. “The face that we made, the face that we were proud of.”
As part of the school’s centennial celebration, Evans and other alumni restored a historic classroom with old furniture, memorabilia and a timeline that wraps around the walls.
Evans credits Tekeshia Hollis — Howard’s current principal — with helping this vision come to life.
“I partnered with the alumni association because they know more about the history of the man,” Hollis said. “Records weren’t really kept up and maintained in the late 1800s, for us.”
Hollis’ grandmother attended Howard. She said that makes a moment like this even more special.
“We stand on hallowed ground,” she said. “As we reflect on the past 100 years, we can’t help but marvel at the resilience, courage and dedication that have defined the spirit of this institution.”
That spirit is something that began with the school’s namesake himself.
“[David T. Howard] donated land, just so Black people could have a school to go to,” said Brenton Washington, an eighth grader at Howard. “That’s what makes this building so special. It’s part of his legacy.”
Washington said the 100-year celebration made him think about the legacy that he would leave when he graduates.
“It’s time for me to carry the torch,” he continued. “To pass it down to the next eighth graders.”
Note of disclosure: Atlanta Public Schools holds WABE’s broadcast license.
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