In March 2022, then-Report for America corps member Katie Hyson, who covered race and inequality for WUFT, published a story: “How a Black marching band style was erased from Gainesville’s fields, and why it matters decades later.” The story became one of Hyson’s most memorable segments. Through her reporting, she delved deep into the history and impact of desegregation in North Florida, as well as the lost legacy of a traditional Black marching style in Gainesville, a county with one of the largest achievement gaps between Black and white students in the state. Throughout her time as a corps member, she continued covering the community’s efforts to retain the marching style — and their history. 

Three years after the initial story, news broke that an alum who marched under the legendary band director featured in Hyson’s breakthrough story was returning to lead the band. Report for America provided the support so Katie Hyson could return to her former newsroom and report on one last follow-up assignment. You can read her September 2025 update here.

Following her reporting, Hyson spoke to Report for America to reflect on her investigative process and the impact her reporting had on the community. 

Part 1: Uncovering the History of Gainesville’s Black marching band

“In the 1970s, when the federal government started enforcing desegregation, they closed down the all-Black schools that were held near and dear to the Black community there,” Hyson says. “They were sources of pride and gathering for them. And part of it was that they had a unique marching band style. It was a style traditionally known for HBCUs. You might think of high steps, swinging horns, dancing…”

Eastside High School was formed after desegregation and, for the first time, brought together Black and white students. The school hired a marching director from an all-Black school, who brought that style to the school.

The marching band quickly grew in popularity.

“It wowed the crowds at halftime,” she says. “People would come to the football games just to see them perform. And I’ve been told at halftime when people normally would go to the bathroom, grab popcorn, that everyone stayed in their seats because they were there to see East Side March. And it was especially a point of pride because this side of town had less investment, had less wealth and income. But Eastside’s marching band, well, halftime belonged to Eastside. So it really gave the community a sense of pride for the decades that followed.”

Part 2: Revisiting a Community, and a Story

Because Hyson’s reporting had meant so much to the community, when news broke that “Chip,” an alumnus of the band under the director who featured prominently in the first story, was coming back, Hyson’s phone blew up.

“I can’t even convey the excitement of the alumni. Some of them said they felt like they were being pranked. They had to sit down when they got the phone call. My first reaction was just gutted that I wasn’t still living there and working for that station to be able to cover this next chapter of this incredible story. The story had meant so much to me. It had meant so much to the community.”

When Report for America reached out about a follow-up story, it was a smooth reintroduction. 

“I already had this whole network of alumni that I could immediately reach out to. It was just a real privilege to reconnect with them,” Hyson says. “And I think they were so excited to be able to share with me this new chapter as well. We did get a little emotional at the end of some of the interviews. [As reporters,] we get to witness history every day, but you don’t always get to see the next chapter of that history. And so it felt really fulfilling to see this arc complete.”
Hyson wraps up with some final words:

“From the time I started reporting with Report for America until now, we’ve seen newsrooms shutter, we’ve seen newsrooms shrink. What that means is that the news starts to get pared down to the bare minimum. And some of these stories, like a high school band getting a new director, that’s not high on the priority list to get the news out— so you lose these pieces of culture and history,” Hyson says.

“For Report for America to see the value of telling stories like this and why it matters that these communities be documented, that their histories matter, that their culture matters, means so much.”