The Forgotten Girls Who Desegregated New Orleans Before Ruby Bridges

The Forgotten Girls Who Desegregated New Orleans Before Ruby Bridges

This is the first story in our series chronicling the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. In November 1960, three 6-year-old Black girls climbed 18 steps into history, forever changing the face of American education and democracy.  While Ruby Bridges became a household name for integrating William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans, Gail Etienne, Leona Tate, and Tessie Prevost — known as the “McDonogh Three” — faced large crowds of angry…