Tessie Prevost Williams, a quiet yet significant figure in the civil rights movement, passed away on July 6 at the age of 69. She was one of the first African American girls to integrate a public school in New Orleans—a monumental change that took place during a time of fierce resistance against desegregation in the South. Williams, alongside two other young girls, courageously faced the hostility of angry mobs, making her a part of history that often passed unnoticed.
Born on September 26, 1954, in New Orleans, Williams was raised in a family that valued education and civic responsibility. Her father worked as a postal clerk while her mother was a seamstress. From an early age, Williams demonstrated exceptional intelligence, impressively memorizing the preamble to the Constitution and the Gettysburg Address by the time she reached kindergarten. As a child of the post-Brown v. Board of Education decision, she would soon find that not all schools adhered to the Supreme Court's ruling that declared segregation unconstitutional.
On November 14, 1960, the day she was set to start first grade at McDonogh 19, Williams and her peers were picked up by U.S. marshals, assigned for their protection. This marked the very essence of danger they were about to encounter. While Ruby Bridges was ushered into her school amid national attention, Williams, along with Gail Etienne and Leona Tate, faced threats of violence that would intimidate any adult. Their bravery was, and remains, an emblem of resistance to oppressive systems.
As they made their way to their new school, Williams, dressed in a freshly ironed dress and neat oxfords, initially mistook the hostile crowd for celebrants of Mardi Gras. However, the chants of “Two, four, six, eight, we don’t want to integrate!” quickly shattered the illusion, leaving a lasting impact on the girls. Williams recalled the sight of fellow students disappearing from classrooms as families pulled their children from school amidst the chaos.
For much of the school year, Williams, Etienne, and Tate endured not only the physical threats posed by their peers but also psychological torment. They spent much of their time in a classroom devoid of other learners, taking recess in secret to avoid potential violence. Despite these dire circumstances, the marshals assigned to protect them provided a sense of normalcy, supplying encouragement that Williams would persist in her studies and face her trials.
Gradually, the tide began to shift. By the time Williams reached second grade, some African American students started enrolling at McDonogh. However, this integration did not alleviate the hostility. In fact, their experiences deteriorated further as they transitioned to a new school. The responsibility of making a stand for desegregation now rested solely on their young shoulders. Williams, whose maturity in the face of adversity often surprised even her peers, along with her classmates, found themselves isolated, confronted with physical and emotional violence.
Describing her school years as “the worst time” of her life, Williams later reflected on the aggressive behavior of classmates and the inaction, or even encouragement, from teachers. Several times she faced abuse ranging from verbal assaults to physical violence—acts that starkly highlighted the pervasive racism of the time.
Yet, through it all, the legacy of what the girls endured became evident only years later. During her junior year of high school, Williams learned of her crucial part in the history of desegregation, as a history project brought her story to the forefront. It was a realization that illuminated the sacrifices made by the young girls who had been thrust into the limelight and later neglected by history.
Williams’ contributions did not stop with her school years. After high school, she chose to study elementary education, although she ultimately did not pursue a teaching career. Instead, her professional life led her to work for the city of New Orleans, a telephone company, and later, for over 25 years, as an administrative assistant at the Louisiana State University dental school. Despite the struggles she faced, she remained dedicated to her community.
In her personal life, Williams was married to Dwight Williams for 35 years, until his death in 2020. At the time of her passing, she lived in LaPlace, Louisiana, with her mother and sister, who are now her sole immediate survivors. Tessie Prevost Williams, though not as well-known as some of her contemporaries, made a deep impact on civil rights history.
The school that once bore the name McDonogh 19 has since been renamed to honor the contributions of its more famous students. As the Tate Etienne and Prevost Center, it now serves to educate and engage visitors about civil rights history in New Orleans. The work started by these young girls continues to resonate because their courage demonstrated not only the dire necessity for equality but also the poignant truth that even the smallest voices can make a resounding impact on history.
Today, Ruby Bridges, who has become a well-known face of integration, remains alive, along with her fellow pioneers like Etienne and Tate, underscoring the importance of remembrance and education about America's civil rights history. Their stories illuminate the perhaps too-often overlooked sacrifices made by civil rights activists, especially those of young children like Williams who faced such trials so bravely. As society continues to confront issues of race and integration, reflecting on the past is crucial to understanding the present and shaping a more equitable future.
Ultimately, Tessie Prevost Williams’ life was a testament to resilience and the ongoing struggle for civil rights. Her quiet dignity in the face of adversity serves as a beacon of hope for future generations striving for equality and justice. This legacy lives on not only in her story but in the essential representation of all young women like her, who stepped into the unknown, changing the course of history in their own way.