Cherrydale in Arlington in Arlington County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Taking Action: Michael Jones, Gloria Thompson, Ronald Deskins, Lance Newman
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), June 15, 2021
1. Taking Action: Michael Jones, Gloria Thompson, Ronald Deskins, Lance Newman Marker
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Taking Action: Michael Jones, Gloria Thompson, Ronald Deskins, Lance Newman. .
"[The grown-up] kind of impressed upon us the difficulties we might encounter and everything, but it didn't daunt me." , Lance Newman, 2016
, A New Era Begins , Arlington, Virginia. February 2, 1959. Seventh-graders Michael Jones, Gloria Thompson, Ronald Deskins, and Lance Newman enrolled at this school, then known as Stratford Junior High. One hundred police officers stood guard against protests, but the day unfolded peacefully. Desegregation of Virginia's public schools had begun.
Being pioneers was not easy. The four children endured slurs and "sneers" while attending Stratford. As the only girl in the group, Thompson found the experience isolating. Even so, the four recognized the importance of their actions, that desegregation was, in Jones's words, "a good thing for us in the long run."
Strong Community , The events of February 2, 1959, represented the work of an entire community: families, individuals, and organizations across Arlington, as well as the state chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Desegregating Stratford Junior High was an important step, but it was not the end of the journey. The work had to continue....
[Captions:] , Ronald Deskins says goodbye to his mother as he leaves for school on February 2. Lance Newman later remembered that his own mother was a "nervous wreck." The four families had reason to worry, having received threats from opponents to desegregation.
Built in 1950, the school represented the latest thinking in modern design (the architect was Rhees Evans Burket, Sr.). With desegregation, children from all backgrounds could now benefit from Arlington County's bold investment in education.
"[The grown-up] kind of impressed upon us the difficulties we might encounter and everything, but it didn't daunt me."
Lance Newman, 2016
A New Era Begins
Arlington, Virginia. February 2, 1959. Seventh-graders Michael Jones, Gloria Thompson, Ronald Deskins, and Lance Newman enrolled at this school, then known as Stratford Junior High. One hundred police officers stood guard against protests, but the day unfolded peacefully. Desegregation of Virginia's public schools had begun.
Being pioneers was not easy. The four children endured slurs and "sneers" while attending Stratford. As the only girl in the group, Thompson found the experience isolating. Even so, the four recognized the importance of their actions—that desegregation was, in Jones's words, "a good thing for us in the long run."
Strong Community
The events of February 2, 1959, represented the work of an entire community: families, individuals, and organizations across Arlington, as well as the state chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Desegregating Stratford Junior High was an important step, but it was not the end of the journey. The work had to continue....
[Captions:]
Ronald Deskins
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says goodbye to his mother as he leaves for school on February 2. Lance Newman later remembered that his own mother was a "nervous wreck." The four families had reason to worry, having received threats from opponents to desegregation.
Built in 1950, the school represented the latest thinking in modern design (the architect was Rhees Evans Burket, Sr.). With desegregation, children from all backgrounds could now benefit from Arlington County's bold investment in education.
Erected 2021 by Arlington Public Schools, Arlington County Government, and the local community to commemorate the 1959 desegregation event.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights • Education. A significant historical date for this entry is February 2, 1959.
Location. 38° 53.955′ N, 77° 6.723′ W. Marker is in Arlington, Virginia, in Arlington County. It is in Cherrydale. Marker can be reached from Vacation Lane, 0.1 miles east of 23rd Street North, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2162 N Stafford St, Arlington VA 22207, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), June 15, 2021
3. Stratford Junior High School Integration Display
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), June 15, 2021
4. Stratford Junior High School Integration Display
Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 15, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 224 times since then and 32 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 15, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
