Code,915034
Subject,Annabelle Weiss
Date,6/12/12
Interviewer,David Braunlich
Abstract,"Annabelle Weiss is a long-time resident of Shaker Heights, having been drawn to the area primarily because of the reputation of the school district. In this interview Weiss speaks extensively about school and residential integration in Sussex and Ludlow, describing who the people were that led the push to integrate, reactions of the communities both inside and outside the neighborhood, and organizations established to ease the tensions that existed at the time."
Tags,
Special Notes,
Minutes: ,21 minutes
0,Lived in Shaker for 51 years. Raised her family and sent three children to the Shaker school system.
1,"School system was a major reason for her living in Shaker and the system did live up to it's promise. Youngest daughter decided she wanted her children to have the same opportunity and she did. A good explaination for her daughter's decision was because she grew up in an integrated community, and was able to have friends of both races. All three children look back on that as an enriching experience. "
2,Another readon her and her husband were excited about buying a house in Shaker was because the Ludlow Community was becoming integrated. There was a movement to prevent white flight. Was first going to buy a house in Ludlow. 
3,"Even though they made an offer on a house in Ludlow, a black family offered more. They would have been the first white family there. They didn't turned off by that. Instead they bought a new house on Scottsdale Blvd in the Sussex School District, where their children when to school.  "
4,"A year after they moved in, the first black family bought a house in the Sussex area. The reaction among neighbors started a movement tried to keep blacks out. They formed another organization to welcome blacks and prevent panicekd selling. The two groups meet each week for several weeks to discuss their points of view. Al Ringler was a wonderful leader of her group."
5,"He was always warm, friendly, accepting, and brilliant. The leader of the anti-group decided they were going to join their group and the Sussex Association was born. A year later a black family bought a house across the street. Their oldest child was the same age as her youngest. "
6,They became best friends until junior high when her daughter's friend wanted to be socially accepted by other black children. The father was a dentist of the Case Western Reserve Dental School and became a head of the dental school department. Could not look down at them even if you wanted to. 
7,"There was a strong reaction in the black community of Cleveland, where some of the men went into white and integrated neighborhood, thowing rocks at windows and starting trouble with blacks and whites together. "
8,"Annabelle's daughter was across the street with Shawn, they were called indoors and told not to play in the front yard. Daughter said one night they put their arms together examining their skin because they never thought of race. "
9,"Her children had both black and white friends. Always thought Shaker was a great community- excellent public service, even though the taxes are very high."
10,The Association faded away. Her children went to Sussex grade school on Lomont. There is another school on Lomont near Lee Road- there are two school districts in a close area. 
11,"It seemed that over the years the Sussex school district did not give into panic selling, and it still mostly white. The Lomont school district is still heavily back, but does not know why. Her guess is that they closed Sussex school. "
12,"Young families weren't coming in as much, they went to Lomont. Sussex school was created to host three daycare centers, with an expanded playground, and a community center. This was attractive to families with working mothers. "
13,Young white families began to move into the Sussex neighborhood. Still sees more white that black faces in the neighborhood. 
14,"Children are telling Annabelle to sell the house and move into an apartment, but is uninterested because she does not have touble with stairs and rides her bike everywhere. Her daughter's children went through Shaker schools, and her daughter started to go to parent meetings at the junior high. "
15,She would meet other parents who were kids she had grown up with her purposefully moved into Shaker because they wanted their children to have the same opportunities they had in an integrated area.
16,"Always thought it was terrible how blacks were treated in the country, and her husband had simliar thinking. Meeting and seeing black people grow in professional positions proved their point of view. "
17,"Now there is a Sussex Assocation to promote goodwill among the neighbors with picnics, blockparties, and events at the school. She does not go because she is past that point in her life. "
18,There was a period of time when the Lomont principal got a reputation of being a fabulous principal. When her daughter's second child was in school she was in SGORR (Student Group on Race Relations)
19,"It was started by a teacher, and got together a group of black and white high school students who wanted to work on race realations. They talk to younger kids and do a lot to promote relationships between blacks and whites. She was also the only white cheerleader. "
20,People gravitate back to Shaker because the schools did a great job scholastically and because they encouraged the kids. Daughter moved in with schools in mind. 
21,Daughter had a house in University Heights. When they could afford a bigger and better house she insisted they move to Shaker. 
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