Finally, First in Her Class : After 75 Years, Justice Prevails

By: Cynthia Cavendish-Carey

This is the story of a remarkable woman of accomplishment. A brilliant student at Westinghouse High School in Pittsburgh, Fanetta Nelson Gordon was poised to be first in her 1936 class and valedictorian. She was following in her sister’s footsteps: Sophia Phillips-Nelson had addressed her class as valedictorian just two years before in 1934.

Fanetta Nelson was brought up to believe that she had to be better. She embraced her family’s values and worked hard, mastering her classroom work, turning in all her assignments and achieving beyond her peers. She was a gifted musician and would go on to become a teacher and concert pianist.

Miss Nelson attended Westinghouse High in the 1930s – well before the civil rights movement took hold. Despite her accomplishments, there was just one problem with Fanetta in the eyes of the school’s principal: Fanetta was a woman of color. Since her sister had been valedictorian in 1934, two black valedictorian’s in two years was one too many in his opinion.

Recently, an alumni group reviewed her transcript and other records from the school at that time. They found that the principal had sanctioned changing Fanetta’s grade in music from an A to a B. The tell-tale sign of erasure marks were undeniable. This small yet highly damaging action resulted in her class ranking dropping from first … to fourth in a class of 155 students. Fanetta had always gotten A’s in music. The injustice of this slight must have been incredibly hurtful for a young woman of such integrity and strong work ethic. But, the truth always has a nagging urgency of coming to light.

Finally, after 75 years, Fanetta Nelson Gordon was recently recognized as valedictorian for the class of 1936 at Westinghouse High. The sad news is that she never got to deliver her speech. Miss Gordon died three years ago at the age of 88, so it was her older sister, Sophia, who stepped in to accept this official honor and recognition on Fanetta’s behalf.

Despite this painful chapter in her life, Fanetta Nelson Gordon continued her life-long accomplishments. She became the piano accompanist for the National Negro Opera Company and performed at Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Hall. Clearly, her family’s inspiration to excel helped her to get through the tough lesson from her young womanhood.

At that time, Westinghouse was less than 10% African American. Today, it is 97%. Discrimination has been one of the ugliest marks on our country’s history; and, unfortunately, it still exists today. However, the lesson of these two sisters and their leadership can serve as a fine example of overcoming adversity and going on to fulfill the success that is one’s destiny.

Cynthia Cavendish-Carey is a business and marketing consultant. She is working on her first novel, “Kachina and the Butterfly Maiden,” which is a young girl’s journey to find her own divine feminine.