Mr. Oscar Wright
Civil Engineering

Not only has Mr. Wright practiced civil engineering and construction over 35 years, he often speaks of his passion: helping African American children to be and do their best. Born in 1923, he entered Alcorn State University where he excelled academically, while playing football (elected All-American) and basketball. He organized the first African American Conservation League in Mississippi and a Charter Member of Old Miss' first African American Credit Union. He was the President of Emerville, CA's NAACP (Meger Evers was Mr. Wright's first college roomate). In 1986, he founded the "The Black United Front for Educational reform". In 1993, he filed a complaint with the U.S. Dept. of Education Office of Civil Rights, alleging that African American Students were being tracked in the lowest academic classes, and disciplined, suspended and expelled at a far greater rate than other races, for similar issues. After investigation, this Department found the allegations to be true and issued a decree to the Oakland, CA Public School District to provide equal access to educational resources. Mr. Wright is currently the Co-Chair of the African American Education Task Force. He reminds us all through his quote: "It is not about you and it is not about me; it is about our children".