© 2024 WOSU Public Media
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Looking back at the Lincoln School marches

On the morning of July 5, 1954, Lincoln Elementary School in Hillsboro, Ohio went up in flames. The fire led to one of the longest-sustained civil rights marches in American history.
Press Gazette

Seventy years ago, on the morning of July 5, 1954, Lincoln Elementary School went up in flames.

Lincoln was the segregated school for Black children in Hillsboro, Ohio.

And even though Brown vs. Board of Education had just struck down the "separate but equal" doctrine, the district had no immediate plans to integrate.

Questions swirled across the community.

Who lit the fire? Where would the children who attended Lincoln go? Would the district finally integrate?

All of these unknowns would soon be answered and lead to one of the longest-sustained civil rights marches in American history.

We're discussing the Lincoln School marches during this hour of All Sides.

Guests:

  • Rebecca Asmo, Executive Director at Ohio Humanities
  • Melvin Barnes Jr., Program Officer at Ohio Humanities
  • Teresa Williams, Lincoln School marcher (pre-recorded interview)

If you have a disability and would like a transcript or other accommodation you can request an alternative format.

Stay Connected