This week Queen's High School had the opportunity to attend a question and answer session with the incomparable Minnijean Brown-Trickey at Otago Girls' High School. Ms. Brown-Trickey was one of the so-called 'Little Rock Nine', a group of African American students who were chosen to attend Central High School, one of the first desegregated high schools in the Southern United States.

Minnijean's recollection of that time was harrowing and eye opening. She experienced a year of terrible abuse for daring to access education. Her indomitable spirit was obvious even then, and what struck us was how positive her outlook on life was. Minnijean's daughter, Spirit Tawfiq, joined her mother on stage discussing the legacy of her mother's activism and reflecting on what has changed. The Queen's students listened intently and asked several insightful questions of Minnijean. They thoroughly enjoyed their time and were able to immediately relate it to social and environmental issues that concern them today.

We'd like to thank Minnijean, Spirit, Royden, and their families for allowing us this opportunity to hear first-hand how impactful the Black Civil Rights movement was. Thank you to Ms. Felicity Speight and Otago Girls High School for hosting. It is so important for young people to hear different perspectives from all walks of life to help inform their future. In the words of Minnijean "Students can force Presidents to act, they can force Prime Ministers to act, they can make those in power behave differently".