Memories of the Past, Hopes for the Future For any community to truly document its history it must include all of the people who helped create and sustain it. African Americans in Princeton remember an active and supportive black community. They also remember segregated schools and theatres, limited employment opportunities, unaffordable and unavailable housing, and the subtle but very powerful affects of racial discrimination. Today the university is committed to enrolling a diverse student body. Children attend integrated schools.
People shop in the same stores and eat in the same restaurants.
Despite these changes, many African American residents still express concerns over issues such as the rising cost of housing, which has pushed many people outside of the community, and discrepancies in education and employment opportunities. The memories of struggle, and of past accomplishments, remind everyone that progress is an on-going process that must be taken on by new generations to come. African Americans in Princeton remember what made them strong, what made them proud, what made them want to continue despite the odds. They also remember the people, the events, and the places that have kept their community alive. And the memories shared here are not just reminders of the past, but hopefully, keys to the future.