Charles Thomspson’s Historic First Day Of School
In May 1954, the Supreme Court of the United States declared that segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. Thus, just months later, Charles Thompson was able to attend Public School No. 27 along with White students. And judging from this photo of his first day there, his education began on a positive note.
His classmates welcomed him with open arms, it seems, and they became instant friends with each other. This is a stark contrast with the experience of Ruby Bridges, another pioneer student in the desegregation of the school system. According to Baltimore Sun photographer Richard Stacks, Thompson was the only African-American child attending the school at the time.
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