Overlooked No More: Barbara Johns, Who Defied Segregation in Schools

Thank you for this article.

What courage in the face of evil. Everyone owes Ms. Johns a debt of gratitude. Her courage forced the South to "do the right thing", in the thoughtful words of Spike Lee that will always ring true.

Because of Ms. Johns’ efforts and courage, combined with countless others, my path was brighter before I was born. As an African -American woman, I am filled with even more gratitude after reading her obit.

Barbara Johns- thank you for your courage and heart. From the sound of her writings and the way she thought, it seems she probably had a prodigious intelligence. Just imagine what she had to offer the world had she not had to scrape and scrap to find equal footing and opportunity. Look what she made of herself in spite of those obstacles! I hope her family is very, very proud of this lovely woman who died too young. Love and respect to her and her family.

People like Barbara Johns are the most precious of human beings.

Forgotten documentary film about this civil right heroin, watch the trailer of BARBARA JOHNS The making of an icon : https://vimeo.com/47994996

Kudos to Michael Rakowitz, for having the courage of his convictions. If these artists were among those organizing against the Dana Schutz painting last time then it would be incredibly hypocritical for them to ignore Kanders and the Safariland connection this year. If you’re more outraged by a painting than babies in cages then... have a nice time in Venice at the vernissage?

Oddly fitting that the NYT acknowledges the death of a de-segregationist as it fully embraces a political party intent on bringing segregation back.

Thank you for recognizing an American hero. I was a student at Longwood College from 1960-1964, and there for the first time in my life, I grasped the malice behind the efforts to prevent the integration of public schools. Prince Edward County, And it was there that I first heard of Barbara Johns. Another hero of that time was the dean of Longwood College, Gordon Moss who stood against the closing of the schools.

Thank you for this obituary which delivers a long overdue tribute that is also a timely one.I believe the spirit of Barbara Johns is hovering over our young today and it gives me hope in these dark days. I just learned from a friend that a second town on Martha’s Vineyard has banned plastic bottles, thanks to the mobilization of elementary school students who succeeded in persuading their elders to support the new law. But just think what is happening on a greater front. Greta Thunberg is leading a global revolution to demand climate change laws now. And the Parkland High school students and their young peers around the country are demanding changes to our nation’s hideous gun laws. Adults who righteously declaim about family values and the future of our children reek with hypocrisy when they are doing everything they can to deny climate change and our freedom to live in a safe society, where we don’t have to be constantly looking over our shoulders or feel a pang of fear when we send our kids to school or gather for worship.

Barbara Johns - a name, a life, a story we should know, indeed.

Thank you, NYT, for recognizing the efforts of so many in what became the Brown decision. The recent book We Face The Dawn (Edds) also offers a rich narrative of this contributions of so many brave and unsung heroes like Johns. May they not be forgotten.

What a courageous person she was!

Thank you for finally publishing an obituary of Barbara Johns. What an incredibly brave young leader was this woman. While the article doesn't make it clear she did this in the face of KKK and police death squads. This took unbelievable physical bravery for a 16-year-old to stand up. She should be in the pantheon of real women leaders. It is all too common that the rank and file leaders of the Civil Rights movement, like E.D. Nixon and Johns have been ignored. My 9-year-old daughter is reading, "Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry." In it there is described the indignity of the Black children having to walk down muddy roads while the whites-only school bus passes them. I hope my daughter will find her inspiration in the strength of another girl who stood up and led a fight for a better world. Barbara Johns you are not forgotten.

Thank you, Barbara Johns. You were brave and strong -- and a young colored girl when that meant a triple-dose of disdain from the good old white boys who ran the schools and everything else. I'm sure you faced more than the vague description of threats mentioned before you moved to Montgomerey. You did Good.