Doratha “Dodie” Smith-Simmons never had plans to become a civil rights activist.
But at just 15 she was inspired to get involved by her older sister, who was among the students who integrated the University of New Orleans — then known as Louisiana State University in New Orleans — in 1958.
Smith-Simmons, now 81, first joined the NAACP’s Youth Council but longed to be more active in fighting segregation and other racist practices at stores, restaurants, theaters and other public gathering places…