Recreating Barbara Johns' Historic 1951 Speech at ...

This video shows "backstage" scenes surrounding the re-enactment of Barbara Johns' historic speech on April 23, 1951 in Farmville, Virginia. Johns, a 16-year-old student, spoke to an assembly of fellow students at Robert Russa Moton High School, persuading them to go on strike to demand that their inferior learning situation be improved. The students' action led to the Prince Edward County court case being included in the historic Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court ruling, which struck down segregated education. This scene is part of a documentary being filmed by New Millennium Studios and actor/director Tim Reid. When completed, the film will be shown to visitors at the Robert Russa Moton Museum, housed in the same building in which Johns made her speech. Learn more about Prince Edward County's role in civil rights education at http://www.motonmuseum.org/