Barbra Horrell is a life-long Columbian who graduated in 1959, with the last segregated class at Douglass High School. She went on to become the first black student from Columbia to get a full ride in scholarships to MU, and then spent 45 years with the university before retiring. Horrell is a key advocate for historic preseration and education in Columbia with the Sharp End Heritage Committee.
For KBIA’s You Don’t Say series, Horrell sat down for a talk with Annelle Whitt. Whitt grew up in Long Island, New York, and after spending 25 years as an insurance executie she now directs the MAC scholars program for Columbia Public Schools.
The two spoke at Douglass High school, where they discussed growing up and going to work in Columbia — and the struggles they faced as black women navigating high-powered careers.
You Don’t Say is a special project commissioned by the City of Columbia’s bicentennial Como200 task force. It’s co-produced by the Sharp End Heritage Committee and KBIA.
