John Philip Sousa Junior High School facts for kids
|
John Philip Sousa Junior High School
|
|
 |
|
 Location in Washington, D.C.
|
|
| Location | 3650 Ely Place, SE, Washington, D.C. |
|---|---|
| Area | 5.78 acres (2.34 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 01001045 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Added to NRHP | August 7, 2001 |
| Designated NHL | August 7, 2001 |
The John Philip Sousa Middle School in Washington, D.C. is a public school for students in grades 6-8. It is located in the city's Fort Dupont neighborhood. This school building, built in 1950, became famous for its role in the Civil Rights Movement.
Right after it opened, twelve black students were not allowed to attend this school, which was only for white students. This unfair action led to a very important court case called Bolling v. Sharpe. In 1954, the Supreme Court decided that separate public schools for different races were illegal in Washington, D.C. This decision helped end the idea of "separate but equal" and was a big victory for civil rights.
Because of its important role, the school was named a National Historic Landmark in 2001. In 2022, it also became part of the Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park.
The School Building
The John Philip Sousa Middle School is in Southeast Washington, across from Fort Dupont Park. It's a large building shaped like an "L" and made of brick. It has a modern style and ranges from one to five stories tall.
One part of the building, three stories high, holds the main offices and classrooms. The main entrance faces the street. Another part of the building, which runs along the road, has bigger spaces like the school's gym and auditorium.
A Big Step for Civil Rights
The school was built in 1950. At that time, schools in the District of Columbia were segregated, meaning black and white students went to separate schools. Schools for African-American students often had too many students and not enough money. Schools for white students were usually less crowded and better funded.
For a while, African-American families in the area had been trying to get schools to be fair. In 1949, parents of students from another school, Browne Junior High, started to organize. They wanted to challenge the unfair segregation rules.
When the new John Philip Sousa Junior High School opened in September 1950, twelve black students tried to enter. They were with their parents, lawyers, and even a police escort. However, the principal would not let them in.
This event led to a major court case. In 1954, the Supreme Court made its famous decision in Bolling v. Sharpe. The Court ruled that the segregation policy in Washington, D.C. was against the law. This was a huge step forward in the fight for equal rights for all students.
