Leona Tate facts for kids
Leona Tate (born October 31, 1954) is a brave American who helped change schools in New Orleans. She was one of the first Black children in the United States to attend a public elementary school that was previously only for white students. This important step helped end segregation in schools.
Leona Tate's Story
Early Life and School Days
Leona Tate grew up in the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans. Her family was chosen to help start school desegregation. This meant that schools, which used to be separated by race, would now welcome all students.
On November 14, 1960, four brave 6-year-old girls made history. Leona Tate, Tessie Prevost, Gail Etienne, and Ruby Bridges were the first African American children to attend formerly all-white public elementary schools in New Orleans. This was a big moment for the Civil Rights Movement in the southern United States.
Leona, Tessie, and Gail, known as the "McDonogh Three," went to McDonogh 19 Elementary School. Ruby Bridges went to William Frantz Elementary School.
When the girls entered the schools, many white parents took their children out. For 18 months, Leona and the other girls were often the only students in their classrooms. Federal marshals, who are like special police officers, had to escort the girls into school each day to keep them safe. By 9:25 a.m. on that historic day, two public elementary schools in the Deep South were integrated.
In 1962, McDonogh 19 became an all-Black school again. So, Leona, Gail, and Tessie bravely went on to integrate another formerly all-white elementary school, T.J. Semmes. The integration of these schools was a very important event in the history of the American Civil Rights Movement.
The Leona Tate Foundation
In 2009, Leona Tate started the Leona Tate Foundation for Change. Her goal was to buy McDonogh 19, the school she, Tessie Prevost, and Gail Etienne first integrated.
Today, Leona and her partners at Alembic Community Development have reopened the historic building. It is now the Tate, Etienne, and Prevost (TEP) Center. This center is a special place that teaches about the history of school desegregation in New Orleans. It also shares stories about the Civil Rights Movement and Black life.
The TEP Center is a safe place for everyone to learn. It helps people understand how to work against racism and promote fairness for all.
