John Arthur Stokes facts for kids
John Arthur Stokes (born December 31, 1931) is an American educator. He was a very important person in the civil rights movement.
Early Life and Activism
John Arthur Stokes was born on December 31, 1931. He grew up in Kingsville, Virginia. This was during a time called the Jim Crow South. In the Jim Crow South, laws kept Black people and white people separate. This was called segregation. Black people often had worse schools and public places.
Stokes went to Robert Russa Moton High School. This was a segregated school just for Black students. He and his classmates saw that their school was not as good as schools for white students. They faced many unfair rules.
Because of these unfair conditions, Stokes decided to act. He led a student walkout. The students refused to go back to class. They wanted their school to be rebuilt and made equal. This brave action helped show how unfair segregation was. It also helped start bigger changes in the civil rights movement.
Career as an Educator
After high school, John Arthur Stokes went to Virginia State University. He then became an educator. He taught in Baltimore. As an educator, he continued to work for fairness and equality.
Awards and Recognition
John Arthur Stokes has received several important awards for his work. These awards recognize his efforts in education and civil rights.
- The Dr. Charles Hamilton Houston Award
- The A. Leon Higginbotham Award
- United States Department of Justice Award
- N.E.A. Award
