1954

Nationally, 1954 was a huge milestone year for desgregation of education, with the Brown v. Board of Education decision declaring schools segregated on race to be unconstitutional and ordering schools to desegregate at "all deliberate speed."

The speed chosen by Virginia was swift, but swift in a backwards direction. At best, Fairfax's position could be described as passive, if not actively obstructionist, toward desegregation. Aside from a brief statement a few days after the Supreme Court issued the decision, it is almost completely ignored in official Fairfax School Board minutes for a year after the ruling.

In fact, rather than move to desegregate, segregated education in Fairfax County became even more entrenched in 1954 with two major developments:

  1. The disconinuation of FCPS operation of a school on the Fort Belvoir Army base in response to a directive from the U.S. Department of Defense that all segregation in schools on Ft. Belvior be discontinued by September 1955.
  2. The opening of the first high school for Black students, the fully segregated Luther Jackson High School in Merrifield.

Before 1954, Black pupils in Fairfax County who wished to attend school beyond 7th grade had few options: they could attend the Manassas Industrial School (resulting in hours-long commutes each way), could pay tuition to attend public school in Washington, DC, or they simply dropped out of school. The long-awaited opening of Luther Jackson was a huge victory for the Black community and represented an enormous step forward in educational opportunity.

So at the same time that this development was a further entrenchment of the segregated system, it also was a huge step forward for opportunity and access for Fairfax County students who had previously been denied an opportunity for secondary education in Fairfax at all.

1954 Pre-Brown

The Fort Belvoir Controversy

By early 1954, FCPS was operating a segregated white elementary school on the Ft. Belvoir property open to all white children whose parents lived on the Post. Children of Black parents were allowed to attend the segregated Drew-Smith School off-post.

White high school students on Post were allowed to attend Mt. Vernon High School. Black students who lived on post were transported to Manassas Regional High School in Manassas.

April 6 - The Fairfax County School Board passed a resolution to discontinue operation of a school at Fort Belvoir Military Reservation "in accordance with existing laws of the State of Virginia requiring segregated public schools."

The Board further resolved that Ft. Belvoir students were welcome to attend FCPS schools "with the distinct understanding that such schools operated by Fairfax County are segregated schools." (Fairfax County School Board, 1954, April 6)

May 17, 1954 - Brown v. Board of Education

Washington Post editorial page, May 19, 1954: "It is not too much to speak of the Court's decision as a new birth of freedom...America is rid of an incubus which impeded and embarrassed it in all its relations with the world."

("Equal Education For All", 1954)

May 21 - In contrast with laudatory A front page story in the Washington Post opens, the "The Fairfax County School Board last night went ahead with detailed plans for separate housing of white and Negro students in 1954-55 despite the recent Supreme Court decision banning school segregation." ("Fairfax Continues Plans", 1954, p. A1)

In the same article, as an indication of the Board's focus on the school crowding issue, the article notes, "Between 3800 and 4000 white children will be on half-day shifts this year, but no double shifts are planned for Negro schools." ("Fairfax Continues Plans", 1954, p. A1)

June 30, 1954 - FCPS ceases operation of the elementary school at Fort Belvior Military Reservation, as Department of Defense rules no longer allowed it to be segregated (Fairfax County School Board, 1955, June 7)

There were some initial signs that Virginia might comply with the Supreme Court decision without great fanfare. According to Benjamin Muse, the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Dowell J. Howard, regarded as a "foregone conclusion" that the Court would rule against segregation, and seemed to have a "certain exhileration athe prospect of becoming, himself, a central figure in great events, and pride at the thought that [he] might be destined to lead Virginia's public school system through the greatest crisis in its history. (Muse, 1961).

Sadly, Howard was not able to hold back the political tsnunami of opposition to desegregation and suffered a nervous breakdown eighteen months later. Rather than proudly leading a desegregated Virginia public education system, Howard died form a heart attack in February 1956. (Muse, 1961, p. 4).


"There will be no defiance of the Supreme Court as far as I am concerned. We are trying to teach children to abide by the law of the land, and we will abide by it." - Dowell J. Howard, Virginia State Superintendent of Public Instruction

Fairfax School Board Silence on Brown through Most of 1954

The Fairfax County School Board appears strangely silent on the issue of the Brown v. Board of Education ruling. Examination of board meeting minutes from May 20, May 27, June 1, June 3, June 15, June 22, and June 29 indicates no discussion whatsoever on the topic.

As if no Supreme Court ruling declaring desegregation unconsitutional had not recently been issued, the Board discussed expanding its segregated school system through the possibliity of "site for a negro school in the Bailey's Crossroads area", passing a motion to negotiate the purchase of 7 acres off land "for a colored school". (Fairfax County School Board, 1954, July 6)

The issue was not discussed at the July 8, July 15, or July 29.

On August 3, the Board resolved to purchase the land for the segregated "negro school" at Bailey's Crossroads. At the same meeting, a "Women's Political Group" urged the Board to "give serious consideration to the appointment of a bi-racial committee to study the problem of school integration in the county". The Board declined to take action on this suggestion, saying "it has given this matter its sincere and serious consideration but it not ready to take any action on this matter at this time." (Fairfax County School Board, 1954, August 3)

The Fairfax County School Board "is not ready to take any action on this matter at this time" - August 3

After the mention on August 3, at Fairfax County School Board meetings, the Brown v. Board of Education matter was not discussed again on August 9, August 12, or September 2.

It stood out to me while reading the September 2 minutes that in numerous Board discussions about the need for equipment at the two new high schools opening in the Fall, Annandale High School and Luther Jackson High School, the Board at the September 2 meeting finally voted to approve the acquisition of 1000 bleacher seats for Annandale and 500 for Luther Jackson. The Board then approved the purchase of 1000 bleacher seats at Herndon High, Mount Vernon High, and Falls Church High. Why did Luther Jackson only get half as much?

August 29 - The Washington Post covers the new schools opening for the 1954-55 school year. The article mentions that 11 schools had part-time classes (in two shifts) and that new school construction will relieve that pressure to the extent that only 7 schools will be on double shifts by the end of the year. The three new schools to open are Annandale High School, Luther Jackson High School, and Sleepy Hollow Elementary.

“The 14-room Luther Jackson School at Merrifield is the county’s first high school for Negroes, who in past years have either been required to travel by bus to a regional high school at Manassas or attend Washington schools at their own expense.” (Smith, 1954).

September 1, 1954 - Luther Jackson High School Opens

Luther Porter Jackson school naming

This video, part of the FCPS "What's in a Name?" series, introduces the life and accomplishments of Luther Porter Jackson, the educator, historian, and civil rights activist for whom the first high school for Black students in FCPS was named.

"This school...was the pride of the black community [...] and operated for eleven years as a mecca and model for black education in Fairfax County." (Lee, 1993)

September 7 - At this Board meeting, Superintendent Woodson read a letter from the Unitarian Laymen's League of the Unitarian Church of Arlington to the State Board of Education hoping that "the Board of Education will develop a positive program for the earliest possible compliance with the spirit an intent of the recent decision of the Supreme Court of the U.S. respecting integration of races in teh public schools of Virginia". There was no Board discussion of this matter. (Fairfax County School Board, 1954, September 7)

No further discussion of Brown V. Board of Education was made on September 14

September 28 - Significant discussion regarding the disposition of the former Odrick's Corner one-room schoolhouse for possible use as a segregated recreation center for "colored" residents.

Further silence - There was no discussion of desegregation at the October 5, October 7, October 14,

November 2 - The Women's Club of Franklin Park, a neighborhood in McLean close to the Arlington County border, urged the formation of a committee "to study the effect of desegregation". Chairman Davis replied that "the Board is not at this time ready to consdier such request."

Board Member Richard E. Shands read a statement urging a "smooth changeover from segregated to non-segregated schools" signed by 80 county residents.

"Mr. Davis urged that the School Board make a definite statement on this issue to indicate to the State what its wishes with regard to the Supreme Court decision area. Mr. Robinson did not feel this Board should express any such sentiment...further discussion was posponed." (Fairfax County School Board, 1954, November 2)



"Further discussion was postponed..."


"No official action was taken by the Board on this subject at this time."

November 4 - Fairfax County School Board appoints three members to attend the public hearing held by the Governor to discuss segregation and integration.

"Some informal discussion ensued on this subject, during which several Board members expressed opinions on how racial integration in school scould be best accomplished in Fairfax County, should the State of Virginia issue directives for such action." (Fairfax County School Board, 1954, November 4)

No futher discussion at November 18, November 22, December 2.

At the December 7th meeting, the Board was read an a letter regarding integration by an Audrey Fugitt, but the contents of the letter are not disclosed in the Board minutes, and Board members made no comment on the record regarding the contents of the letter.

Enrollment Report:

No discussion of desegregation on December 14.

November 15 - Letter of Falls Church (Fairfax County) resident Carl Auvil to Governor Thomas Stanley, writing in strong support for desegregation, saying "Both the principles of Christianity and the law of our land point to elimination of racial segregation." (Auvil, 1954).