Little-Known History Fact: Fanetta Nelson

In 1936, Fanetta Nelson, a top student and piano prodigy, attended Westinghouse High School in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where she was destined to be valedictorian. Unfortunately, the school principal vowed not to allow a second African-American make valedictorian - only two years prior, Nelson’s sister, Sophia, had been awarded the honor at graduation. What was even more surprising to the Nelson sister's parents, who, coincidentally, were both teachers, was that their younger daughter’s stellar academic performance had met the 1936 requirements for valedictorian, but the principal had forced her music teacher to lower her grade from an A to B to prevent her from gaining the top spot in the class.

Years later, the music teacher confessed what he had done to the Nelsons. Despite Fanetta Nelson’s setback at Westinghouse and the discrimination both she and her sister endured, they both attended the University of Pittsburgh and became teachers. Fanetta Nelson also became a concert pianist. Recently, a Westinghouse High School alumni, Reggie Bridges, joined with former classmates to right the wrong done to Fanetta Nelson, despite the fact that she is now deceased. Upon investigation, they clearly saw the erasure marks on her transcript. The high school agreed, and historical records now acknowledge Fanetta Nelson as the 1936 valedictorian.

Fanetta Nelson died at age 88. Her award for valedictorian was accepted by her 93-year-old sister, Sophia.

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