BY: PRENTISS SMITH

Fifty years ago, I, along with a handful of young people, graduated from Ruston High School. The reason that is important is because we were among the first black students allowed to attend and graduate from a "white" school in Lincoln Parish or any other parish in north Louisiana. It was a big deal, because it was the beginning of the end of the notion of separate but equal schools and accommodations in Louisiana and other southern states. It was a victory for justice and equality, which happened because of the courage of black men and women and the courage of "good white folks" who knew in their hearts that what was going on was wrong. These changes did not come about easily. No, they came about because of the blood and tears shed by both blacks and whites to make America the beacon of freedom that it purported to be.

FOR THE REST OF THE ARTICLE PUBLISHED IN THE April 10 ISSUE OF FOCUS SB - THE INQUISITOR GO TO  https://www.theinquisitor.com/news/fifty-years-later-we-are-still-trying-get-it-right OR SUBSCRIBE TODAY AT http://www.theinquisitor.com