New Orleans school desegregation crisis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids New Orleans school desegregation crisis |
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The New Orleans Four were escorted by U.S. Marshals to integrate White-only public elementary schools in New Orleans, 1960
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| Date | November 14, 1960 | ||
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McDonogh No. 19 Elementary School and William Frantz Elementary School located in the Ninth Ward of New Orleans, Louisiana
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The New Orleans school desegregation crisis was a challenging time in New Orleans history. It happened after the U.S. Supreme Court decided in 1954 that separating students by race in public schools was against the law. This decision was made in a famous case called Brown v. Board of Education.
The biggest part of this crisis began on November 14, 1960. On that day, a judge named J. Skelly Wright ordered New Orleans schools to start allowing students of all races to attend together.
On the morning of November 14, 1960, two elementary schools in New Orleans began to desegregate. Three girls, Leona Tate, Tessie Provost, and Gail Etienne, went to McDonogh 19 Elementary School. Another girl, Ruby Bridges, went to William Frantz Elementary School. These four 6-year-old girls became known as The New Orleans Four. They faced many angry people who did not want the schools to change. Many white families stopped sending their children to these schools right away.
A few days later, on November 16, a large protest happened outside the school board office. After this, United States marshals (like federal police officers) started going with the four girls to school every day to keep them safe. Over time, more white parents began to send their children back to school.
It took about ten more years for all public schools in New Orleans to fully integrate. Catholic schools in the area also started integrating in September 1962.
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Why Did This Happen?
After the American Civil War, New Orleans tried to make education fair for everyone. In 1868, Louisiana added a rule to its Constitution that said all students should get a free public education, and it even banned schools from being separated by race.
However, these changes didn't last. By 1877, federal troops left Louisiana, and new leaders came into power. They reversed the progress made, bringing back segregated schools.
"Separate but Equal"
In 1896, the Supreme Court made a ruling in a case called Plessy v. Ferguson. This ruling said that schools could be "separate but equal" for white and African American students. But in reality, schools for African American students were often much worse. They were crowded and didn't have good resources.
Because of this, the African American community in New Orleans wanted better schools. They wanted the "separate but equal" rule to actually be fair. In 1951, people like Wilbert Aubert and Leontine Luke started working to challenge the Orleans Parish School Board (OPSB) to improve conditions.
Legal Battles Begin
Wilbert Aubert, with help from A. P. Tureaud, a lawyer for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), filed a lawsuit. This lawsuit, Rosana Aubert v. Orleans Parish School Board, aimed to get better schools for African American children.
Later, in 1952, the NAACP filed another lawsuit, Bush v. Orleans Parish School Board. This case questioned if separating students by race in schools was even legal.
A Landmark Decision
Then, in 1954, a big decision came from the Supreme Court in a case from Kansas called Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka. This ruling declared that separating students by race in public schools was against the Constitution everywhere in the United States.
A year later, in 1955, the Supreme Court said that schools should integrate "with all deliberate speed." This phrase caused arguments. Some people thought it meant schools should integrate right away. Others thought it meant they could take their time.
Resistance to Change
Even though the Supreme Court made its ruling, many people in Louisiana resisted. Senator William M. Rainach and the state government tried to keep schools segregated. They even passed laws to try and stop integration.
Judge J. Skelly Wright ordered the OPSB to create a plan to integrate schools by 1956. But the state government and the OPSB fought against this order. Their case even went to the Supreme Court, but Judge Wright's decision was upheld.
The state government kept ignoring the order. So, in 1959, Judge Wright set a deadline: March 1, 1960, for the OPSB to integrate schools.
Delays and New Plans
The school board missed the March 1 deadline. Judge Wright then made a new plan for September 1960, when schools would open. This plan allowed first-grade students to transfer to any school closest to their homes, regardless of race. Some groups supported this plan, while others strongly opposed it.
The plan was delayed again until November 14. The school board hoped that if students were already settled in their schools, fewer would transfer. They also tried to make it very hard for African American students to transfer by adding strict rules.
Just before November 14, the Superintendent tried to close the two schools chosen for integration. The Governor and state government also tried to pass many new laws to stop integration. But the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit quickly ruled all these new laws illegal. So, on November 14, 1960, school desegregation officially began.
The Day Schools Changed
On November 14, 1960, William Frantz Elementary School and McDonogh 19 Elementary School became the first schools in New Orleans to integrate. Many people thought that schools in wealthier areas would be chosen first. Instead, these two schools were in a less wealthy part of the city called the Lower Ninth Ward.
Five girls were chosen to be the first African American students to attend these schools. Four of them decided to go: Leona Tate, Tessie Prevost, and Gaile Etienne went to McDonogh No. 19. Ruby Bridges went to William Frantz Elementary.
Facing Protests
Every day, U.S. marshals walked with these young girls to school to protect them. They were met by large, angry crowds of people who protested the changes. As news spread, more people joined the protests. Many white parents took their children out of school. Protesters chanted slogans and cheered for every white student who left.
A group called "The Cheerleaders" formed, made up mostly of housewives who were upset about desegregation. A leader named Leander Perez held a big meeting where he spoke against integration. The next day, many teenagers gathered at the school board office, but police arrived and they left.
Reporters from all over came to New Orleans to cover the events. The protests, especially those aimed at the six-year-old girls, made the city look bad to many people across the country. The mayor at the time, Mayor Morrison, asked reporters to leave but did not stop the protests.
Community Impact
Eventually, the protests calmed down, and the school year continued. However, many white families moved away from the Lower Ninth Ward to other areas. This caused a big change in the population of the neighborhood.
During this time, there were some disturbances in the city. People were arrested for various actions related to the protests. Some Louisiana officials even met with President-elect John F. Kennedy to discuss their opposition to federal involvement in state school matters.
What Happened Next?
After the New Orleans School Crisis of 1960, the city worked to move forward. The brave young girls who were the first to integrate the schools were not always remembered right away.
Even today, there are still differences in who attends public and private schools in New Orleans. Many families choose private schools. However, there have been efforts to improve public education. Test scores have gotten better, new charter schools have opened, and school buildings have been updated.
The goal remains to make sure all students in New Orleans have access to excellent schools.
See also
- Desegregated public schools in New Orleans
