It was unheard of in 1954 for African-American high school students to stage a boycott in Johnson City, Tennessee. On April 13 of that year, however, 140 students from Langston High School – 70 percent of the student body – protested the dismissal of their principal, J. Neil Armstrong. The students called for his return as their school’s leader and created and distributed signs that read: “We Want Armstrong.”
When mothers of the students visited School Superintendent John Arrant to find out why Armstrong was dismissed, Arrant explained that he recommended the Board of Education dismiss Armstrong on charges that he failed to show leadership necessary to organize discipline. The board approved the dismissal.
Arrant addressed the student protestors and told them that their protesting would not benefit Principal Armstrong in his situation. Ruby Smith was the student body president, and Mable Glaspie was one of the student boycotters.
The students marched six blocks from the school downtown to the superintendent’s office on the old Science Hill High School’s campus. The protestors were told that if they did not go back to school they would be expelled and that they were creating a situation that would result in their grades’ and diplomas’ being withheld.
The students regrouped and marched to Carver Recreation Center, where they held a news conference and confirmed loyalty and commitment to Principal Armstrong and challenged their parents and other tax-paying citizens to investigate the Board of Education’s actions. Viola Mathes, the board chairwoman, assured the citizens that an open hearing on Armstrong’s dismissal would be granted.
The students peacefully returned to school the next day.
