To the editor: 

A brief in the September 28 Alexandria Times, apparently using the Hollywood fictional movie as the source, mistakenly states “in 1971 the T.C. Williams High School – was the first racially integrated football team in the school’s history.” 

Factually, in 1965, T.C. Williams’ football team along with Alexandria’s two other high school football teams – George Washington High School and Francis C. Hammond High School – were all first racially integrated. 

However, the U.S. Department of Education and/or the U.S. Department of Justice did not approve the racial diversification of the entire public school system. Accordingly, in 1971, to receive federal government approval, Alexandria created a new structure, the structure currently in use, turning two of the former high schools into middle schools – GW and FCH – and leaving T.C. Williams as Alexandria’s one senior high school. 

Admittedly, Hollywood’s creative license did enhance the drama of the story. However, Alexandria citizens should realize Hollywood’s fiction may be a faulty source of facts. 

-Gerald B. File, Alexandria