Desegregation Stories: Joe and Sharon Parks
Sharon (Vincent) Parks and her husband, Joe Parks, attended intermediate school at Luther Jackson. Sharon Parks integrated the freshman class of Fort Hunt High School in 1963-64. Joe Parks integrated Bryant Intermediate School and enrolled in Groveton High School in 1963-64. Sharon and Joe share the challenges they faced during childhood and desegregation. Their powerful stories shed light on race relations in Fairfax County in the 1960s, and include moments of tragedy—the bombing of a friend’s car—and triumph—when Groveton’s basketball team took a stand against racism at the Dixie Pig restaurant.