Georgia Interscholastic Association

The Georgia Interscholastic Association (GIA), formed in 1948, was a sports league of high schools serving African Americans in Georgia.[1] It merged into the Georgia High School Association with desegregation in 1970.[2] As If We Were Ghosts is a documentary film made about the league and its athletes.[3][4][5][6][7][8] The Georgia Interscholastic Association held state championship competitions from 1948–70 and joined the Georgia High School Association the following year.[2]

Georgia Interscholastic Association
AbbreviationGIA
Merged intoGeorgia High School Association
Formation1948; 76 years ago (1948)
Dissolved1970; 54 years ago (1970)
Purposesports league of high schools serving African Americans
Region served
Georgia
Official language
English

History

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The Big 7 Conference included large high schools for African American students in Georgia. The GIA was an expansion of this league that grew to include county high schools around the state.[9] High schools for African Americans from 147 of Georgia's 159 counties came to be included in the league.

Walt Frazier, Wyomia Tyus, Otis Sistrunk, Monk Johnson, Rayfield Wright.[6] Don Adams, Willie Seay, and Edith McGuire emerged from the league.[10][11][12] Seay went on to star on Albany State University's track team and carried the Olympic torch before the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia.[12] Becky Taylor who works at the Tifton Gazette has been researching the league for years.[6] Herb White, nicknamed the Elevator from Decatur, worked on the documentary film about the league. A high school basketball, star he went on to play for the Atlanta Hawks.[7]

The GIS grew to include high schools for African American students from 147 of Georgia's 159 counties.[6] After the film was broadcast the filmmakers and some of those featured in the film participated in a panel discussion moderated by Ann Kimbrough.[10]

High schools

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References

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  1. ^ "General Information". GIA Heritage. Georgia High School Basketball Project. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
  2. ^ a b "GIA Champions | GHSA.net". www.ghsa.net.
  3. ^ "'As If We Were Ghosts' set to premiere: GIA documentary to air twice on GPB | News | valdostadailytimes.com". www.valdostadailytimes.com.
  4. ^ Taylor, Becky. "GIA's 'Ghosts' brought to life in documentary". The Tifton Gazette.
  5. ^ "Top Black Female Sports Broadcaster Headlines Legends Film on Juneteenth". Black Enterprise. 28 April 2022. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
  6. ^ a b c d Taylor, Becky (14 June 2022). "As If We Were Ghosts' set to premiere: GIA documentary to air twice on GPB". Valdosta Daily Times. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
  7. ^ a b Nizlick, Tzali (13 June 2022). "Georgia-born Herb White is making ghost stories real". Score Atlanta. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
  8. ^ Holcomb, Todd. "GPB to air documentary on African American high school sports during segregation".
  9. ^ "Documentary on Georgia Interscholastic Association will air Monday on GPB". Moultrie Observer.
  10. ^ a b LLC, OURS Studios. "OURS Studios LLC". AS IF WE WERE GHOSTS.
  11. ^ "(BPRW) Acclaimed Independent Filmmaker Monty Ross joins Ours Studios as Filmmaker-in-Residence | Black PR Wire, Inc". (BPRW) Acclaimed Independent Filmmaker Monty Ross joins Ours Studios as Filmmaker-in-Residence.
  12. ^ a b Correspondent, Joe Whitfield Staff. "Albany State Athletics Hall of Fame welcomes eight new members". Albany Herald. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  13. ^ "GIA Baseball Champions | GHSA.net". www.ghsa.net.
  14. ^ "GIA Boys Basketball Champions | GHSA.net". www.ghsa.net.
  15. ^ Gazette, Becky TaylorTifton. "Do or Dye: Obstacles were opportunities for former coach, teacher". The Tifton Gazette.
  16. ^ a b c d e f g h i "GIA Football Champions | GHSA.net". www.ghsa.net.
  17. ^ a b "1969 champs Houston High Indians celebrated in long-awaited ring ceremony". www.13wmaz.com. July 13, 2020.
  18. ^ Pinholster, Johnna. "Memories of Pinevale High". Valdosta Daily Times.
  19. ^ Staff reports. "History of Elm Street High compiled by former student". Northwest Georgia News.
  20. ^ a b Observer, Wayne GrandyThe Moultrie. "Hall of Fame to honor 1961 state champion William Bryant football team". Moultrie Observer.
  21. ^ "USC: Museum of Education". www.museumofeducation.info.
  22. ^ Oxford, John. "Full integration of Moultrie schools came 16 years after ruling". Moultrie Observer.
  23. ^ "GIA Girls Basketball Champions | GHSA.net". www.ghsa.net.
  24. ^ a b "GIA Girls Basketball Champions | GHSA.net".