During the late 1950s and early 1960s, Mt. Sterling erupted in fires. Some of the fires were arson, set both in support of and opposition against the integration of the black schools. Booker T. George watched while most of his high school burnt to the ground. A couple years later, Booker became the first black firefighter in Montgomery County. Booker came through a painful and tumultuous time in history, and not only survived but also paved the way for others. He believes that race issues got better for a time and have turned and are getting worse again. He and his girlfriend said that their children and grandchildren have been called the “N” word more than they ever were. Booker reminds us that the hatred in our history is not as far away as we would like to think it is.
Choosing the high road
After Booker T. George’s high school was set ablaze, he became a firefighter.