It seemed to be a good sign when Taylor County High School in Butler, Georgia, held its first integrated prom last year. Unfortunately, the brotherly love took all of a year to fizzle out. Some of the students have decided to hold their own grad party for the class of 2003, and the message is as clear as a burning cross: no Negroes allowed.

In the past, parents had held segregated dances to avoid the chaos known to ensue when the races start a-mixin'. Last year, the student planning committee decided against the old-South ideals of their parents. According to this year's committee, a small number of students wanted a whites-only dance and put pressure on the rest to agree with them.

In the school of 439 students, 232 are black, and while some were deeply hurt by their exclusion, they will attend their prom with a message of their own: everyone is welcome.

» Scott Saxon