History of R.R. Moton High School
As seen in our home screen this women did amazing things for the strike. The reason that the strike took place was because the white schools that colored people where unable to attend, were much cleaner and better then the colored schools. The students from Moton High School would get all of the hand-me-down text books and school equipment from the white school up the street. Moton high didn't even have a gymnasium, cafeteria or a teachers lounge. Since there were only six classrooms total, most of the time there would be five or more classes held in the auditorium. Because there weren't enough rooms in the school they started to make shacks for the children to learn in. These shacks were made out of tar paper which is exactly the same material that chicken cops are made out of. They also had no essential heating or cooling, they only had a cobble stove which sat in the middle of the room. This was dangerous because students that sat to close could get burned or over heated and students that sat far away could get to cold. There, life wasn't easy, but thanks to these great students it has changed.
Edwilda Allen Isaac
In 1939, Moton High School was built for a population of 180 students. A few years later, still having the same capacity limit of 180 students, Moton High held over 400 students. Amongst these students was young Edwilda Allen and her close friend Barbara Jones. After a couple years of being crammed into a school with leaky ceilings and no heat, they decided that they had had enough. One afternoon, in the school auditorium that was no larger than a half line of a high school football field, gathered all of the students that attended Moton High School. During a recent interview with Ms. Allen, we learned that they a were told to have the teachers leave so if they were to get caught, the teachers would not be fired. Although Ms. Allen did not write the speech, she supported Barbara in giving the speech. After the speech, Barbara, Edwilda and another supporting student began to shout out a chant to encourage other students to join them. Through out the interview, Ms. Allen told us that she was a little worried about the consequences that would follow her actions as she prepped for going on strike. She also explained to us that Barbara had told her and the other students that they were not to tell their parents about their behavior. After that, they set off knowing that it would be a bumpy road but if they put enough effort into it, they could change the world.
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How The Students Accomplished Their Goal
After the students ad meet in the auditorium and had learned about Barbara Jone's plan, they head out the door to get more direction on how to protest. The students began holding up signs and shouting about the unfair treatment in the school systems. A little while after they started the strike, their school was closed. Hoping to solve the problem, they went to court and asked for help. At first, court said no and that they would have a vote for integration even though that's not what the students were fighting for. Later, they found themselves in the Brown vs. Board of Education case which ended segregation in schools.
To read an interview of Ms. Allen from the Modern Virginia Interviews website, click here.