In her childhood, Tessie Prevost likened the crowd protesting the desegregation of McDonogh 19 to a Mardi Gras parade. (Source: Associated Press)
May 17, 2024 Story by: Editor
Six decades after the desegregation of New Orleans schools, the legacy of resilience and hope endures. Leona Tate, one of the courageous trailblazers who integrated McDonogh #19 Elementary School in 1960, continues to champion civil rights. Joined by Gail Etienne and Tessie Prevost, Tate broke barriers as they became the first black students to attend an integrated public school in Louisiana.
In the wake of Barack Obama’s historic presidency, Tate founded the Leona Tate Foundation for Change, aiming to provide equal educational opportunities for youth in the greater New Orleans area. Central to this mission is the transformation of the McDonogh #19 Elementary School building into the Tate, Etienne, and Prevost (TEP) Interpretive Center.
Closed since 2004 and damaged by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, McDonogh #19 faced years of neglect. However, with a vision for preservation and education, the Leona Tate Foundation secured funding from various sources, including the National Park Service’s African American Civil Rights (AACR) grant program and the Save America’s Treasures (SAT) program.
After extensive rehabilitation efforts, McDonogh #19 reopened its doors on May 4, 2022, as the Tate, Etienne, and Prevost Center. This multi-use facility houses an interpretive exhibit on the New Orleans Public School Desegregation Experience, as well as offices for organizations dedicated to social justice and 25 subsidized apartments for seniors.
The African American Civil Rights Grant Program and the Save America’s Treasures Grant Program played pivotal roles in funding the restoration of McDonogh #19. These initiatives reflect a broader commitment to preserving and honoring the legacy of the civil rights movement in the United States, as embodied by Leona Tate and her fellow activists. Source: National Park Service
