OAK RIDGE, Tenn. (WOKI / WVLT) – The City of Oak Ridge and community leaders will mark a significant moment in the city’s history next month with the groundbreaking of a monument honoring the Scarboro 85, the 85 Black students who helped desegregate Oak Ridge public schools in 1955.
The groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for September 3 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at A.K. Bissell Park.
The monument will commemorate the events of September 6, 1955, when 85 students from the Scarboro community entered previously all-white classrooms at Oak Ridge High School and Robertsville Junior High School. Their enrollment made Oak Ridge a landmark location in the nation’s civil rights movement and one of the earliest communities in the Southeast to successfully desegregate its schools.
Honoring a Historic Legacy
The monument will be constructed near the Peace Pavilion in A.K. Bissell Park and is intended to serve as a permanent educational and reflective space for residents and visitors.
Organizers say the project will help preserve the stories and experiences of the students who played a pivotal role in advancing educational equality during a critical period in American history.
“The Scarboro 85 Monument will help ensure that the courage, sacrifice and accomplishments of these students are remembered for generations to come,” said John Spratling, president of the Scarboro 85 Monument Foundation.
Spratling said the monument represents more than a historical marker, serving as a reminder of the impact individuals can have in creating positive change.
“This is an important moment for Oak Ridge and for everyone who believes in the power of education, courage and community to create lasting change,” he said.
Community Collaboration
Plans for the monument were developed through a collaborative effort involving the Scarboro 85 Monument Foundation, the City of Oak Ridge, Anderson County, and numerous local supporters.
Leaders say the project reflects the community’s commitment to recognizing the contributions of the Scarboro 85 and ensuring their place in both local and national civil rights history.
A Lasting Educational Resource
Once completed, the monument will give future generations an opportunity to learn about the students’ courage and the role Oak Ridge played in the broader movement to desegregate public schools across the South.
Organizers hope the site will inspire reflection on the importance of equality, education and civic leadership while honoring those who helped open doors for future generations.
The public is invited to attend the groundbreaking ceremony on September 3.
