In 1951, Barbara Rose Johns, then 16 years old, organized a student walkout at the all-black Moton High School in Farmville to protest the conditions of their education. At Moton, the facilities included tar paper shacks but no gymnasium, no cafeteria, no science laboratories, and no athletic field. The buildings had no plumbing and were heated by wooden stoves. Johns and several other students decided to walk out of the school and not return until the school board promised a new building. On the morning of April 23, the students called an assembly without the knowledge of the school’s principal. Johns detailed the group’s grievances, and for the remainder of the day, students picketed the school with placards proclaiming, “We want a new school or none at all” and “Down with tar-paper shacks.” The following day, student leaders walked to the Farmville courthouse, where they met with the school superintendent, who told them nothing could be done until they returned to classes. In the meantime, lawyers became involved. The strike led to a court case, later bundled with Brown v. Board of Education, that prompted the U.S. Supreme Court in 1954 to mandate the desegregation of public schools.
Further Reading:
- Stokes, John and Lois Wolfe with Herman Viola. Students on Strike: Growing up African American in the Segregated South (2008)
- Robert Russa Moton Museum – Virginia African American Heritage Database
- Robert Russa Moton Museum – Website
This Vignette Provided By
Brendan Wolfe, associate editor of Encyclopedia Virginia.
On January 28 2009 harrygibralter said: @ 9:22 am
Barbara Rose Johns (1935-1991) was an African American rights activist who campaigned for integration at her school in 1951, when she was 16.
Barbara Rose Johns was born in New York City, New York in 1935. Her family had roots in Prince Edward County, Virginia, and it was there that they lived together in Darlington Heights. Her mother worked in Washington D.C. for the U.S. Navy, and her father operated the farm upon which the family resided. The eldest of five children, Barbara had a younger sister, Joan Johns Cobbs, and three younger brothers: Ernest, Roderick, who served in Vietnam as a dog handler and was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart, and Robert.
Barbaraâs uncle was the prominent Reverend Vernon Johns, an outspoken activist for civil rights. When he visited with Barbara and her family he would ask the children questions about black history.[1] This motivated Barbara and her siblings to study black history, and Barbara, as well as her siblings, were influenced by Reverend Johns and his outspoken nature.
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harrygibralter@gmail.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Rose_Johns harrygibralter(Quote)
On June 12 2009 Plywood, Tar Paper, and Revolution | Encyclopedia Virginia: The Blog said: @ 12:57 pm
On November 4 2009 Mykhayla said: @ 5:24 pm
Well, I must point out that there isn’t much coverage for this incident. It was a huge step in the Civil Rights Movement, because it was the only cased that was fully run by youth. I feel as if this incident is the most underrated event in the history of the Civil Rights Movement. Barbara Johns should be discussed along with Dr.King and Rosa Parks, Fannie Lou Hamer and E.D. Nixon. Why is it when we look in our students history books, there is only a few pages about the Civil Rights Movement, and they only mention the common mostly known names during that era. It frustrates me that the youth of our nation don’t know about this and many other events lost in the midst of the Civil Right Movement, overshadowed by Dr. King. I’m not trying to imply that Dr. King wasn’t important, it’s just that some events should be uncovered for our youth’s (and adults) eyes to see. This is my opinion, and all that I must discuss. Thank you for your time! Mykhayla(Quote)