A New Era of Representation: Barbara Rose Johns Statue Unveiled at the U.S. Capitol
The U.S. Capitol is set to display a statue of Barbara Rose Johns, a teenager who protested poor conditions at her segregated Virginia high school, replacing a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee that was removed several years ago. The unveiling ceremony, which will take place in Emancipation Hall, will feature prominent figures such as Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Republican Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, and Virginia’s congressional delegation.
Barbara Rose Johns was just 16 years old in 1951 when she led a student strike for equal education at R.R. Moton High School in Farmville, Virginia. The students’ cause gained the support of NAACP lawyers, who filed a lawsuit that would become one of the five cases that the U.S. Supreme Court reviewed in Brown v. Board of Education. The high court’s landmark 1954 decision declared “separate but equal” public schools unconstitutional, paving the way for significant civil rights advancements.
A Symbol of Courage and Leadership
A model of the statue shows the young Johns standing to the side of a lectern, holding a tattered book over her head. The pedestal is engraved with the words, “Are we going to just accept these conditions, or are we going to do something about it?” It also features a quote from the Book of Isaiah, “And a little child shall lead them.” According to Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia, the Bible verse reminds him of Johns’ bravery and leadership, and he believes that her story will continue to inspire generations to stand up for equality and justice.
FILE – This Monday, Dec. 21, 2020 photo provided by the Office of the Governor of Virginia shows workers removing a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee from the National Statuary Hall Collection in Washington. (Jack Mayer/Office of Governor of Virginia, File)
The statue of Barbara Rose Johns is part of the National Statuary Hall Collection at the Capitol, in which each state can contribute two statues. The other statue representing Virginia is of George Washington. National Statuary Hall displays 35 of the statues, while others are located in the Crypt, the Hall of Columns, and the Capitol Visitor Center.
A Lasting Legacy
Barbara Rose Johns later married the Rev. William Powell and became Barbara Rose Johns Powell, raised five children, and worked as a librarian in the Philadelphia Public Schools. She passed away in 1991 at the age of 56. Her legacy, however, continues to inspire people to this day. The Johns statue, sculpted by Steven Weitzman of Maryland, received final approval from the Architect of the Capitol and the Joint Committee on the Library in July. Johns is also featured in a sculpture at the Virginia Civil Rights Memorial outside the state Capitol in Richmond.
Former Democratic Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam had requested the removal of the Lee statue, which was relocated to the Virginia Museum of History & Culture in December 2020. The removal occurred during a time of renewed national attention over Confederate monuments after the death of George Floyd.
To learn more about Barbara Rose Johns and her remarkable story, visit Here
Image Source: www.twincities.com
