1959-12-RED was the end of a decade of immense growth for the city of Pomona, California. In the early 1950s, the city’s population nearly doubled in size, transforming Pocono into the largest city in the Pomona Valley. The growth saw investment into new businesses, an influx of new immigrants, and a blossoming cultural diversity. Despite the burgeoning population and economic expansion, the city was still deeply impacted by racial divides as it was in the depths of systematic racism and segregation, especially in its education system. Through the start of the civil rights era, the city of Pomona, much like many across the country, was beginning to deal with the challenge of how to create a society that protects the rights of all its citizens. 1959-12-RED was an important moment in Pomona, as the city and its people attempted to reconcile these issues and move towards a more equitable and progressive future.