Fort Dupont in Southeast Washington in Washington, District of Columbia — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

John Philip Sousa Junior High School

3650 Ely Place, SE

— African American Heritage Trail, Washington DC —

John Philip Sousa Junior High School Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), December 4, 2021

1. John Philip Sousa Junior High School Marker

Inscription. A key event in the landmark 1954 school desegregation case Brown v. Board of Education occurred here at Sousa Junior High (now Middle) School. In 1950 Sousa was one of several new DC schools for white children. When Spottswood T. Bolling, Jr., and 10 other black students tried to enroll and were refused, Howard University law professor James Nabrit sued Melvin Sharpe, president of the DC School Board. Bolling v. Sharpe argued that segregation was unconstitutional. The suit lost, but adjoined to Brown v. Board, won on appeal to the Supreme Court. The school was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2001.

Erected by Cultural Tourism DC.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights • Education • Landmarks. In addition, it is included in the African American Heritage Trail, the Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and the National Historic Landmarks series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1954.

Location. 38° 53.03′ N, 76° 57.195′ W. Marker is in Southeast Washington in Washington, District of Columbia. It is in Fort Dupont. Marker is on Ely Place Southeast, 0.1 miles west of 37th Street

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Southeast, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3650 Ely Pl SE, Washington DC 20019, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Fort Chaplin (approx. 0.7 miles away); First Rock Baptist Church Rain Garden (approx. 0.8 miles away); First Rock Baptist Church (approx. 0.8 miles away); Fort Mahan (approx. 0.8 miles away); Woodlawn Cemetery (approx. 0.9 miles away); Whitney M. Young, Jr. Memorial Bridge (approx. one mile away); Native Birds of Kingman and Heritage Islands (approx. one mile away); a different marker also named Native Birds of Kingman and Heritage Islands (approx. one mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Southeast Washington.

Sousa Middle School image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), December 4, 2021

2. Sousa Middle School

Credits. This page was last revised on March 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 4, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 213 times since then and 31 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 4, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.