A BRIEF HISTORY OF PROM
by Grace Wilson
Apr 24, 2016
2 minutes
1920s: The “democratic debutante ball” makes its high school debut. In theory, any student can attend a “promenade”— but teens of color are excluded thanks to Jim Crow and unequal access to education.
1930s: With the Depression in full swing, some Chicago principals cancel prom to ensure poor students aren't
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