[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 160 (Thursday, September 27, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1316]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 REMEMBERING THE DESEGREGATION OF STRATFORD HIGH SCHOOL IN NASHVILLE, 
                               TENNESSEE

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                            HON. JIM COOPER

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 27, 2018

  Mr. COOPER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember Stratford High 
School and the Nashville community on the 55th anniversary of the 
school's desegregation. On that remarkable day, four twelve-year-old 
girls courageously walked into Stratford High School prepared to change 
history and open the doors of opportunity for all.
  The lessons of Nashville's involvement in the Civil Rights Movement 
are still teaching us how to build a more perfect union. In a 1960 
speech in Nashville, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, ``I came to 
Nashville not to bring inspiration, but to gain inspiration from the 
great movement that has taken place in this community.'' Equal access 
to quality education, like that provided at Stratford, is vital to 
growing leaders who will inspire generations to come.
  In 1963, just a few days after Dr. King spoke of a dream from the 
Lincoln Memorial, Bernadine Price [Rabathaly], Beverly Page [Ward], 
Brenda Harris [Haywood], and Pamela Franklin walked into school and 
trusted the content of their character. With the help, encouragement, 
and protection of the school's Assistant Principal, Ronald Webb, the 
students overcame obstacles that no students should face and helped 
change our nation forever.
  As we reflect on the past, let us remember and thank these heroic 
individuals for their relentless efforts in making our community a 
stronger place, and realize we still have a lot of work to do.

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