Dixie Jordan ’60

I moved to Oakland from Berkeley with my mother when I was in 8th grade. I lived in Rockridge and started at Holy Names High School, but my interest in journalism led me to transfer to Oakland Tech. Tech was a decent place to go to school. There were racial tensions, violence, and a high drop-out rate for African Americans. My class was the last to graduate before the opening of Skyline High School and I remember meeting nice people, some of whom I’m still in touch with, going to the drive-in on Telegraph Ave. for hamburgers, cruising in cars on Friday and Saturday nights.

There weren’t any AP classes back then, but I took classes at Oakland City College during my senior year and really enjoyed that. I was the editor of the Scribe and also a National Merit semi-finalist. I loved World Affairs (History) taught by Mr. Vartanian, who taught me how to take notes and prepare for college. I went to UC Davis and then Cal where I received a degree in Philosophy. I became a journalist and magazine editor. It was fun to be a Technite. I’m a big fan of the city of Oakland and love it when people are surprised to hear I went to Tech. Congratulations to Tech on turning 100!