In 1954, after the passing of Brown v. the Board of Education,...

In 1954, after the passing of Brown v. the Board of Education, the all-White school board of one county in south central Virginia made the decision to close its public schools rather than integrate. Those schools stayed closed for five years.

While the affluent White population of Prince Edward County built a private school--for White children only--Black children and their families had to find other ways to learn. Some Black children were home schooled by unemployed Black teachers. Some traveled thousands of miles away to live with relatives, friends, or even strangers. Some didn't go to school at all.

But many stood up and became young activists, fighting for one of the rights America claims belongs to all: the right to learn.