Winifred Green facts for kids

Winifred A. Green (1937 – February 6, 2016) was an American activist who worked for fairness and equal rights in Mississippi. She spent her life helping young people and improving education. She was a white leader who supported schools where students of all races could learn together. This was in the 1960s in Jackson, Mississippi, a time when not many white people in the South were leaders in the Civil Rights Movement.

Fighting for Fair Schools

Why Schools Needed to Change

After a successful legal case started by Medgar Evers and Myrlie Evers-Williams, schools in several parts of Mississippi had to make plans. These plans were to end segregation, which meant allowing students of all races to attend the same schools. This included the schools in Jackson, where Winifred Green lived. The changes were set to begin for the 1964-1965 school year.

Standing Up for Public Education

Some groups tried to stop schools from integrating. A group called the Citizens' Councils even suggested closing schools instead of letting Black students attend schools that had been only for white students. In response, Winifred Green joined with other white people from the Jackson area. They formed a group called Mississippians for Public Education. Their goal was to show how important it was to keep Mississippi schools open for all children.

Working for Change

Helping People Vote

Winifred Green also volunteered with a project called Freedom Summer. This project started in June 1964. Its main goal was to help as many African-American people as possible register to vote in Mississippi. She worked alongside her lifelong friend, Marian Wright Edelman, on this important campaign.

Supporting Women and Children

Winifred Green helped start the Southern Rural Black Women's Initiative in 2002. She was also part of its main committee. This group was created to help poor women living in rural areas of the American South. She also served on the board of directors for the Children's Defense Fund. This organization was founded by her friend, Marian Wright Edelman, and works to protect children's rights. Green also worked with the American Friends Service Committee, another group focused on social justice.

Early Life and Legacy

Winifred Green graduated from Millsaps College. There, she met Patt Derian. This is where her long career as a Civil Rights activist began. Winifred Green passed away on February 6, 2016, in New Orleans, Louisiana. She was 78 years old. Her work helped make schools fairer and supported many people in need.