• Visual Art

Manual High School

1700 E 28th Avenue

Opened in 1892, Manual High school was one of the first to admit and educate women and African Americans in Metro Denver. Situated in the Whittier district, this high school has gone through many changes over the last few decades in the types of students that attend and divisions of the school into separate institutions. According to the Denver Post, it has since become a national example of low achievement and low enrollment. It will soon incorporate a middle school in an effort to boost enrollment and subsequently test scores. Students have protesting conditions of racial and class discrimination as late as 2014.

~Amy Hernandez

Image Source (Top): Luis Toro - Flickr - 2008

1965

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Emanuel Martinez Graduates from Manual High School

In 1965 Chican@ muralist and painter, Emanuel Martinez  graduated from the underfunded and underestimated Manual High School. From an early age he knew he wanted to pursue art but actively sought to resist racial discrimination in schools. He founded a MEChA (Moviemento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán) chapter on campus. Following his senior year at Manual, he enrolled at Metropolitan State College of Denver but similar to Rodolfo "Corky" Gonzales whom also graduated from Manual, was forced to leave due to financial difficulties. At this point was an active member of the Crusade for Justice. ~Amy Hernandez

1940s

Rodolfo “Corky” Gonzales Graduation

In 1944, Rodolfo "Corky" Gonzales graduated from Manual High School. In his final year at Manual, he worked in order to save money for college and attended University Of Denver for a single quarter. Unable to afford subsequent semesters, he left the University of Denver and pursued a career as a featherweight boxer. ~Amy Hernandez

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