New Orleans commemorates the “New Orleans Four” on desegregation anniversary
30th November 2020 · 0 Comments
By Nigell Moses
Contributing Writer
Sixty years ago, desegregation of New Orleans public schools began with four young, African-American girls, three of whom – Leona Tate, Gail Etienne, and Tessie Prevost – are widely known as the “McDonogh Three.”
On Nov. 14, 1960 the “McDonogh Three” made history by being the first Black students to attend and integrate the once all-white McDonogh 19 in the lower Ninth Ward. During a time of violence and racial tensions, the resilience and bravery of the “Three” forged opportunities for African-American students and communities to have the rights and access to safe public education.
“We gather to celebrate this historic anniversary and we gather to listen to these three brave little girls, now brave women, who became civil rights activists at the tender age of 6,” said Dr. David Robinson-Morris, the director for the Center for Equity, Justice, and the Human Spirit, during Xavier University’s 2nd Annual Sankofa Lecture on Nov. 13, 2020. “These women paved the way for Black students in New Orleans to have greater access to public education,” Robinson-Morris said.
That achievement was also marked by the City of New Orleans on Nov. 14, 2020 in a proclamation ceremony that not only commemorated the anniversary of the “McDonough Three,” but also Ruby Bridges who desegregated William Frantz Elementary School the same day. The city recognized the “New Orleans Four” girls, now women, with a proclamation and the keys to the city, at Gallier Hall.
“Sixty years ago, these women had the courage and tenacity to walk up eighteen crucial steps to desegregate McDonogh 19,” said Mayor LaToya Cantrell in a statement. “This anniversary comes at such a pivotal time in our nation as we use our voices and collective power to fight back against racism and injustice,” Cantrell said.
The “McDonogh Three” will launch the Tate, Etienne, and Prevost (TEP) Center in Spring 2021 at the site of McDonogh 19. It will serve as mixed-use community space for exhibitions, education, senior services and social justice work.
White policy makers, realtors and school board administrators undermined Black education by redistricting areas within New Orleans. Redistricting forced African Americans into controlled, racially segregated zones of neighborhoods and schools. Experts said the removal of education funding, increased taxes, and even the elimination of education beyond the fifth grade for African-American children were all attempts to continue white supremacy.
However, in 1954, the Brown v. Board of Topeka’s Supreme Court decision ruled segregated public schools as unconstitutional. This pivotal moment in history changed the lives of Leona Tate, Gail Etienne and Tessie Prevost.
“At McDonogh, after the first day, we were the only three students in the entire building for a year and a half,” said Leona Tate, one of the “McDonogh Three.”
“White parents pulled their children out the first day we got there. So we were fine, we were comfortable, because there just wasn’t anybody there. We didn’t realize how confined we were until we couldn’t play outside and or eat from the school,” Tate said.
As part of a program to integrate white schools in New Orleans, Black children from low-income families in the lower Ninth Ward were selected to attend. Only two schools were chosen for the desegregation process, William Frantz located in the Upper Ninth Ward and McDonogh 19 in the Lower Ninth Ward. Interestingly, African-American boys were excluded from the selection process.
“It was an advertisement placed in the newspaper that was for children in the Ninth Ward. I think it was about 134 families that submitted applications. They chose five families; only four participated,” Tate said.
The “McDonogh Three” described their experience as emotionally overwhelming and daunting. After the second grade, they were relocated to T.J. Sims Elementary, where they experienced racism directly without the protection of law enforcement. On their own they encountered taunts and violence from both students and teachers.
“At Sims, during recess time, we used to go under this tree like it would protect us. All of us would gather underneath the tree huddled together until the end of recess when we got back to class. We did it every day,” said Gail Etienne, one of the “McDonogh Three.”
“I got hit in the stomach with a baseball bat and that was okay. The Sims experience was rough and no kid should ever have to go through or have gone through that at that young age,” she added.
Through the TEP Center, the “McDonogh Three” said they hope the space on their former school site will serve as a bridge between the past and present to create dialogue about racial discrimination and social injustice, along with providing educational programs to members of the community.
“Through the desegregation of New Orleans public schools, it opened New Orleans publicly, with access to public libraries and other local places,” said Tessie Prevost, the third member of the “McDonogh Three.”
To support the work of the TEP Center and the Leona Tate Foundation for Change, the New Orleans Historic Collection announced that it is offering its members the opportunity to designate a portion of their donations to the foundation and center.
“The students made history and brought positive change to the community,” said Daniel Hammer, the chief executive officer and president of the Historic New Orleans Collection. “We are proud to help tell their story through our programs and holdings, which include Leona Tate’s personal donations and other materials related to the school-desegregation fight,” Hammer said in a statement.
The city is also encouraging the public to commemorate the “New Orleans Four” by participating in an online tribute and supporting the TEP Center in 2021.
“There is so much that needs to be talked about and I hope the TEP Center is a place where we can have this dialogue,” Tate said.
This article originally published in the November 30, 2020 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.
