RICHMOND, Va. — In a powerful tribute to the legacy of Daisy Jane Cooper Johnson, the first African American student to integrate public schools in Richmond, a striking sculpture named Strides has been unveiled at the intersection of Libbie and Patterson Avenues.
The 12-foot-tall artwork, commissioned by Bon Secours and Thalhimer Realty Partners, debuted just in time for Black History Month, commemorating a pivotal moment in Richmond’s educational history.
“We were accused of being traders and causing potential harm to the neighborhood or to the residents in the neighborhood. People were afraid of losing their jobs,“ said Cooper Johnson of the tumultuous time in her life.
The sculpture, designed by local artists Matt Lively and Tim Harper of Lively/Harper Environmental Sculpture, captures the essence of Jane Cooper Johnson’s journey as she made history in 1961 becoming the first African American student to integrate public schools.
Jane Cooper Johnson, formerly known as Daisy Jane Cooper, reflected on the symbolic metal plates at the base of the sculpture, representing the steps she took on that historic day.