The determined father who took Linda Brown by the hand and made history

[FSogol]

Linda Brown Thompson, the girl at center of Brown v. Board of Education case, passed away at age 75 on March 25. This article is about a week old, but I didn't see it posted here. Good story:

In September 1950, a black father took his 7-year-old daughter by the hand and walked briskly for four blocks to an all-white school in their Topeka, Kan., neighborhood.

Sumner was the closest elementary school to their home, but Linda Brown was not allowed to attend because of the color of her skin.

The Rev. Oliver Leon Brown seemed fearless that September day, his daughter would recall more than 50 years later during a 2004 speech at the University of Michigan. She remembered her father’s hands were strong, those of a boxer. He was a heavyset man who had once been a Golden Gloves champion boxer, and this was a fight that he was determined to win.

Brown, an African Methodist Episcopal Church pastor and a Santa Fe Railway worker, wanted his daughter to be allowed to enroll in the all-white elementary school — not because the all-white school was superior to the all-black elementary school she attended two miles away — but because it was a matter of principle.

Rest of article at https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/retropolis/wp/2018/03/27/the-determined-black-dad-who-took-linda-brown-by-the-hand-and-stepped-into-history/?utm_term=.b501c56fa429&wpisrc=nl_optimist&wpmm=1

[Angry Dragon]

1. Needs a kick

[FSogol]

2. I agree. Thanks. n/t

[Stuart G]

3. k and r...nt

[Bayard]

4. Another American Hero

[raven mad]

5. We've got a great "my daughter is just incredible" life moment based on

Rev. Brown and his equally courageous daeghter. Too long to put here, so once it's in okay shape I'll edit it with a DU post as the goal.

Thanks, , FSogol, for the warm memories. 💐 That imp of mine went and grew up. Sigh... When the tale is ready, I'll try and remember to credit you for the reminder!

[FSogol]

6. No need to credit me, but give me a heads up, so I can read your story when you are ready. n/t