Four Arlington students helped end segregation in Virginia schools

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In February 1959, four Black seventh-grade students - Lance Newman, Michael Deskins, Gloria Thompson and Michael Jones - integrated Stratford Junior High School in Arlington, Virginia, breaking the color barrier in the state's public education system. This event was a significant milestone in the civil rights movement, as it came in the face of Virginia's 'Massive Resistance' efforts to circumvent court rulings against segregation. The students' experiences that day and in the following years provide a firsthand account of the challenges and impacts of integration.

Why it matters

The integration of Stratford Junior High was a pivotal moment in the civil rights movement, as it represented the beginning of the end of Virginia's 'Massive Resistance' policies aimed at preserving segregation in public schools. The courage and determination of these four young students helped dismantle institutional racism and paved the way for greater educational opportunities for Black students across the state.

The details

On February 2, 1959, Lance Newman, Michael Deskins, Gloria Thompson and Michael Jones became the first Black students to integrate Stratford Junior High School in Arlington. They arrived at the school after other students were already in class, met with the principal, and then went to their assigned classrooms. While there was some initial nervousness and stares from their white classmates, the students reported that the day went relatively smoothly, with some of their white peers even making efforts to befriend them and help ease the transition. As the school year progressed, the students said they became more comfortable in their new environment, making friends and establishing a routine.

• On February 2, 1959, the four students integrated Stratford Junior High School.
• In the spring of 1956, the NAACP filed a lawsuit demanding Virginia follow the Brown v. Board of Education ruling and integrate public schools.
• In January 1959, a federal judge ordered the immediate integration of Arlington and Alexandria public schools.
• On January 31, 1959, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected an appeal by the Arlington School Board to delay integration.
• In the days leading up to February 2, 1959, media outlets converged on Stratford Junior High to cover the historic integration.

What they’re saying

What’s next

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