She was here in 02.06.2012~
Barbara Henry Gives Keynote at Black History Month Assembly
Posted 02/06/2012 03:21PM
Barbara Henry, a Boston native and retired educator, gave the keynote presentation during the annual Black History Month assembly on Monday, February 6, 2012.
Henry, a white woman, rose to prominence during the Civil Rights Movement for her refusal to leave New Orleans’ Frantz Elementary School during a desegregation protest on the first day of classes in 1960. As her colleagues and students left upon the arrival of Ruby Bridges, an African-American student, Henry stayed in her classroom. For the remainder of the school year, the parents of the white students assigned to Henry’s class staged a boycott of the teacher, but Henry was not deterred. She arrived each day and taught Bridges. Near the end of the school year, three white children were added to the class.
Henry described what it was like walking through the mobs of angry people each day. She related how even her fellow faculty members treated her with disdain. Undaunted, she kept going, knowing what she was doing was right, and allowing faith and love to guide her.
Student speakers set the stage for Henry’s presentation, providing the historical background which led to the landmark court case “Brown vs. The Board of Education” and the events that followed. Video clips highlighting Ruby Bridges and her thoughts on Barbara Henry’s decision to stay and teach her were also included as part of the event. Finally, the music of the Dana Hall Gospel Choir, under the direction of David Coleman, and St. Sebastian’s student Marlon Matthews ’14, accompanied by Meyer Chambers, greatly complemented the speaking portion of the assembly.
http://www.stsebs.org/page.cfm?p=548&newsid=197
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