Standing on the shoulders of a public education trailblazer, Harriette Curley

The intense joy on 10-year-old Alma’s face lit up the crowded Perkins Elementary’s gymnasium. The youth Gospel choir, Bridges 2 Harmony, had just sung happy birthday to the 4th grader.

She and her mom, Inbal Mazar, chose to spend her birthday celebrating a woman they had never met, but who had a huge impact on her school, and on the entire Des Moines public school district. Harriette Curley joined Perkins’ staff in 1946, with the unwavering support of Superintendent N.D. McCombs.

Curley was the first Black teacher in Des Moines. A trailblazer in the truest sense of the word, and one who would break ground for many to follow.

McCombs was quoted in The Tribune in 1954 as saying “Without question she had the best qualifications for the job.” But despite these high qualifications, she was met with objections, parents transferring their children to white teachers’ rooms, and protests. Staff, families, and community leaders celebrated not only her triumph over adversity, but her successful teaching career on March 25 with the dedication of the Harriette Curley Library at Perkins Elementary School.

And now, 78 years after Curley made history, the true story of her journey might not even be able to be taught in Iowa’s institutions. So called “divisive concepts” are forbidden by HF 802, and while HF 2558 failed to obtain a Senate subcommittee meeting this session, it is probably not the last attack on DEI that we will see in Iowa.

Rev. Rob Johnson and Abena Sankofa Imhotep were two of the speakers who were asked to discuss why this recognition is so important. Imhotep is not only a local author whose children’s book will be available in the Curley library, but she is also a former Perkins student. “Overall I had positive experiences in the early part of my education beginning at King Elementary. After 2nd grade many children were bussed out of the community to go to Perkins – we were a part of desegregating the schools.”

The night was filled with music, history, and a true sense of unity and collective pride of Curley’s achievements. The rich diversity that families bring to Perkins was evident in the programming, and families of all races smiled, laughed, and listened to presentations throughout the building. “Like I was telling the kids- we give important names to things we care about. Naming traditions are important – naming the library after a trailblazer demonstrates their values. Perkins values education, diversity, and history,” says Imhotep.

Ensuring public schools are able to teach accurate history and diversity is just one reason why Johnson is running for Iowa House District 34. “I value people and our babies. When I look at my son’s face, he is such a representation of so many of our kids that literally just want a shot. They just want to be educated correctly, loved on by family members and appreciated by their community.”

Johnson credits his desire to make Iowa a better place for all to his mother. “She was always fighting for our community and voices that have been ignored. I saw her do that, and I never thought this would be something that I would do. But it was ingrained in me to stand up and fight.”

To be the first of anything in the pre-Civil Rights Era took a tremendous amount of courage. But Curley took it all in stride. “My husband told me about her hiring, and I remember she said she didn't let the people outside change the way she taught in her classroom. She shrugged it off, and she concentrated on the children,” says Curley’s daughter in law, Susie Bruce.

Curley’s family is very proud of all of her accomplishments “She was younger than most new teachers, having graduated early [Curley graduated high school in two and a half years]. And after her time at Perkins, she worked at Drake overseeing other teachers, then she was the director of the regional Head Start,” Bruce shared. “She was appointed by Gov. Robert Ray to be on the Iowa Civil Rights commission. At one time during the Carter administration, she flew to D.C. for a dinner with Mrs. Carter.”

This success is inspiring other generations. “We needed to remind our children that despite [anti-DEI] policies we have a legacy of defying the odds, of standing up for what is right, and we have to continue to live that way,” says Imhotep.

Johnson agrees, “DEI is an opportunity to tell people we are including you, we hear your concerns, and we will work to address those concerns. Anything that tries to diminish people – we have to stand up and fight, we have to make it clear that people want to be themselves and want to be themselves in any space they occupy.”

Imhotep stresses the need to better educate youth on history and diversity in a world where borders are increasingly porous. “Our children are going out into a world that speaks different languages. We are raising global citizens, so we don’t need to narrow their perspectives. We are not a melting pot but a salad bowl – there are an array of perspectives, thoughts, and ideas in this bowl- each one is something to understand. When we recognize and respect different perspectives, we can see ourselves and others in totality.”

Seeing Curley’s name proudly displayed above the library is having a positive impact on Perkins’ students. “It makes me feel like I can do almost anything. She was around in a time when things like that were rare but she still managed to do it which makes me feel more confident in my ability to do other stuff,” Perkins 5th grader Althena Borzo told WHO TV-13.

Pride and joy were palpable during the ceremony and written on the faces of all who attended the dedication. The comprehensive program that incorporated music, reading, and history was a fitting way to honor a woman who has made an impact on this community for almost 80 years and counting. Not only has Curley earned this recognition, children deserve to know about and be inspired by a variety of diverse role models.

Chris Espersen is a Gazette editorial fellow. chris.espersen@thegazette.com