In 1951, a courageous 16-year-old named Barbara Rose Johns led a pivotal walkout at her segregated Virginia high school. This bold move became a touchstone for civil rights, culminating in a statue of Johns replacing a Confederate general’s statue in the U.S. Capitol in 2023.
Johns organized the protest at Farmville’s Robert Russa Moton High School to address severe overcrowding and poor facilities compared to the white high school nearby. Her charge ignited a movement that would eventually contribute to the landmark Supreme Court case, Brown v. Board of Education, which declared school segregation unconstitutional in 1954.
Cameron Patterson, leader of the Robert Russa Moton Museum, highlighted the significance of this student-led strike, stating that it preceded other famous civil rights actions like the Greensboro sit-ins and the Montgomery bus boycott.
Johns’ bronze statue now stands in Emancipation Hall of the U.S. Capitol, joining the ranks of notable figures representing each state. Virginia’s previous choices for this honor had been Confederate General Robert E. Lee and George Washington. After growing concern over Confederate symbols in the wake of nationwide protests, Lee’s statue was removed in December 2020.
The Virginia Commission on Historical Statues unanimously voted to replace Lee’s statue with Johns’, choosing her from a list of 100 names. The move reflects a broader effort to address historical inequities. Her exemplary activism is now recognized in Virginia’s educational curricula, and April 23 has been designated as Barbara Johns Day.
Johns’ statue, created by Maryland artist Steven Weitzman, depicts a defiant Johns at a podium with a book held high, symbolizing her passionate call for change. The statue’s inscription, “Are we going to just accept these conditions, or are we going to do something about it?” echoes her powerful rhetoric from the past.
According to the Moton Museum, Johns expressed frustration over her school’s lack of facilities, which included makeshift classrooms that didn’t meet basic educational standards. This frustration pushed her to galvanize her peers for the strike, rallying about 450 students to protest for better conditions.
The students’ voices caught the attention of the NAACP, which later filed a lawsuit that became integral to the Brown v. Board case. Although the court ruled against Prince Edward County initially, it mandated improvements to the quality of Black schools. This struggle paved the way for significant changes in education, though Virginia implemented resistance policies that delayed integration until 1964.
After the walkout, Johns faced safety concerns and moved away to complete her education before returning to advocate for civil rights. Her legacy has grown over the years, gaining recognition and leading to efforts to celebrate her contributions.
In an era where discussions about race and representation remain critical, Johns’ story encourages ongoing dialogue about inequality and justice. The unveiling of her statue not only honors her as an individual but represents a cultural shift toward acknowledging the voices of those who fought bravely for civil rights.
For more on Johns’ impact and the ongoing efforts to address historical representation, visit the Moton Museum.
