James Lee Dickey: An Analysis of One African-American's Leadership in Jim Crow Texas

A Year in Industrial Arts

Marlin, Texas is located toward the center of Falls County approximately 24 miles southeast of Waco. In 1875, two community black schools were organized; they were dependent on state funds and met in the Baptist and African Methodist church buildings. In 1916 the city council voted to build a school for blacks for which James Dickey was hired to teach industrial arts. Later, the school was moved to Commerce Street and was named Booker T. Washington. Teachers and students were integrated in the Marlin Independent Schools by 1970-71.