FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Barbara Rose Johns Day Observance Marks 75 Years of Student Activism; Moton Museum Announces July 25 Community Gathering
A Moton Family Reunion: Past, Present, and Future
Community gathering set for Saturday, July 25, 2026
Farmville, VA — Each year on April 23, the Robert Russa Moton Museum joins the Commonwealth of Virginia in observing Barbara Rose Johns Day. It is a time to honor the courage of a 16-year-old student whose actions helped change the course of American history—and to reflect on the generations of leadership that made that moment possible. As the museum marks 75 years since the 1951 student strike and 25 years as a museum, this year’s observance invites the community to pause, reflect, and look ahead together.
Rooted in Community
The story of Moton did not begin in 1951. It reaches back decades earlier, grounded in a shared commitment to education in Prince Edward County.
In 1920, the Council of Colored Women was founded by a group of educators and civic leaders led by Martha Forrester. At a time when public funding for Black education was limited, they organized, raised funds, and advocated for better opportunities for students. Their work reflected a deep and sustained belief that education was essential.
That commitment helped lead to the construction of Robert Russa Moton High School in 1939—a school built through community effort and persistence.
A Defining Moment
By 1951, the school had become overcrowded and under-resourced. It was within those conditions that Barbara Rose Johns organized her classmates and led a student strike.
What began as a local protest became part of Brown v. Board of Education, the landmark Supreme Court decision that reshaped public education across the United States.
That same year, Martha Forrester passed away. In her honor, the Council of Colored Women was renamed the Martha E. Forrester Council of Women, continuing her life’s work at a pivotal moment in both local and national history.
Preserving the Legacy
Decades later, the legacy of advocacy returned when it was needed once again.
After serving generations of students, the Moton High School building closed in the early 1990s and faced the threat of demolition. In 1996, the Martha E. Forrester Council of Women, alongside members of the community, stepped forward to protect it.
Through organizing, fundraising, and persistence, they helped secure the building’s designation as a National Historic Landmark in 1998.
On April 23, 2001—exactly 50 years after the student walkout—the building reopened as the Robert Russa Moton Museum, transforming a site of protest into a place of education, reflection, and public memory.
Past, Present, Future
Over the past 25 years, the museum has grown into more than a historic site. It is a place where history is preserved, shared, and carried forward.
Today, the Moton story continues to gain recognition at both the state and national levels. Barbara Rose Johns now represents the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States Capitol’s Statuary Hall, a powerful acknowledgment of her role in shaping American history.
Through its participation in the Virginia History Affiliates program, organized by the Virginia Museum of History & Culture, the museum continues to expand its reach, connecting the Moton story to a broader network of institutions across the Commonwealth.
The story is also being considered as part of a UNESCO World Heritage nomination, reflecting its global significance in the ongoing pursuit of human rights and educational equity. Through digital engagement, including the museum’s award-winning platform, https://thebarbarajohnsstory.org, the story of Barbara Rose Johns and the student strike continues to reach audiences around the world.
A Day to Gather
In honor of this legacy, the Robert Russa Moton Museum is preparing for a A Moton Family Reunion: Past, Present, Future, a daylong community gathering set for Saturday, July 25, 2026.
Join us in honor of Barbara Rose Johns Day—and as we mark 75 years since the Moton student strike and 25 years of the Robert Russa Moton Museum—for a day rooted in remembrance, celebration, and connection. In the spirit of Sankofa, we reflect on where we’ve been while moving forward together. Enjoy a full day of music, culture, food, and fun, bringing generations together in a shared space of strength, survivorship, and hope.
“Moton Legacy Day is an opportunity for the community to come together in a way that honors the past while creating space for connection in the present,” said Cainan Townsend, Executive Director of the Robert Russa Moton Museum. “It reflects the spirit of this place—where history lives, and where it continues to move forward through the people.”
A Moton Family Reunion will be free and open to the public. Additional details, including location and full programming, will be announced in the coming weeks.
Plan Your Visit
The Robert Russa Moton Museum invites the community to experience this history firsthand—to stand where it happened and carry its lessons forward.
Plan your visit: https://motonmuseum.org/visit
Explore the story: https://thebarbarajohnsstory.org/
Media Contact:
Jill Ahmad
Director of Marketing and Community Engagement
Robert Russa Moton Museum
[email protected]
434-315-8775 x4