You are invited to attend a Panel Discussion at 3 pm and Reception at 5 pm on Saturday, April 21 honoring the Life and Legacy of Barbara Johns.
Civil Rights Panel Discussion at The Alexandria Black History Museum – 902 Wythe St, Alexandria, VA 22314, starts at 3 pm and Moderated by Senator (9th) Jennifer McClellan, will feature Members of the Johns Family; State Senator and Attorney Henry Marsh; Former Prince Edward student Ralph Smith; Prince William School Board Member Lillie Jessie. We’ll be joined by Councilman John Chapman and other elected officials. Panel is FREE and open to the public.
The Reception at Shiloh Baptist Church – 1401 Duke St, Alexandria, VA 22314 starts at 5 pm and will feature Justin E. Fairfax as the keynote speaker, and Delegate (46th) Charniele Herring and Members of the Johns’ Family. We will be joined by Keren Charles Dungo from the Tim Kaine campaign and other elected officials. You can RSVP to reserve your ticket by clicking here or contacting Danny Carroll at 804-895-7576.
ABOUT BARBARA JOHNS
On April 23, 1951 a student lead strike, organized largely by 16 year old Barbara Rose Johns in Farmville, Virginia, helped to change African American education in the United States. The black students at Robert Moton High School walked out in protest of the inferior conditions in their school as compared to the nearby whites only Farmville High School in Prince Edward County.
While the strike was underway Barbara Johns and classmate Carrie Stokes sought legal counsel from the NAACP in Richmond. NAACP attorney, Oliver Hill, agreed to meet with the students. Hill promised that action would be taken on their behalf, with that, the students returned to school on May 7, 1951. The strike lasted ten days. The lawsuit became part of the landmark Brown v. The Board of Education in 1954.
Barbara Johns is remembered for her role in leading the school strike that signaled the start of the desegregation movement in America. She showed the world that one person can be a force for change. Johns was honored in 2008, when the Commonwealth of Virginia unveiled a monument of Barbara Johns in Richmond’s Capitol Square to commemorate her role in desegregating schools in this country.
When asked what gave her the courage to organize the walkout, Barbara Johns replied,
“It was time that Negroes were treated equally with whites, time that they had a decent school, time for the students themselves to do something about it. There wasn’t any fear. I just thought — this is your moment. Seize it!”