New Orleans Summer Campers Explore Civil Rights History at TEP Center
- Leona Tate, a civil rights activist, is preserving the history of integrating a Lower 9th Ward school in New Orleans.
- She was one of the first Black students to attend an all-white school in the Deep South in 1960.
- By creating a civil rights center, Tate ensures that the struggle for equality is remembered and honored.
Summer campers in New Orleans are immersing themselves in the history of school desegregation at the newly established Tate Etienne and Prevost Center (TEP) in the Lower 9th Ward. Tremaine Knighten-Riley welcomed students from the Kedila Learning Center to the historic McDonogh 19, where the "McDonogh 3"—the first three Black girls to integrate the school—made their mark in 1960 at just six years old. This initiative highlights New Orleans' pivotal role as one of the first school systems in the Deep South to implement a federal desegregation plan. Leona Tate, one of the McDonogh 3, recounted her experiences on that historic first day, recalling feelings of invisibility as white students fled the classroom. By the end of the day, Tate, along with her peers, was left alone with their supportive teacher, Mrs. Meyers, and federal marshals. Reflecting on the past, Tate expressed that the significance of their actions seemed overlooked at the time, but she has since embraced her role in sharing their story at the TEP Interpretive Center. The TEP Center, along with Alembic Community Development, received recognition from the National Trust for Historic Preservation for their efforts in renovating McDonogh 19. Now at 69, Tate emphasizes the importance of preserving civil rights history for future generations, stating, “If we just keep telling these stories, they won't die.” The center aims to ensure that the legacy of desegregation and the struggles faced by pioneers like the McDonogh 3 are not forgotten.