Judge Constance Motley is famously quoted as saying, “I reject the notion that race or sex would bar my success in life.” As a civil rights lawyer in 1954, Motley had a significant role in Brown v. Board of Education, which made segregation in education unconstitutional. This is the piece of legislation that effectively ended Lincoln School’s existence as a place of education exclusively for the African American children of West Plains, Missouri! After its beautiful restoration in January 2024, Lincoln School resumes its purpose as an oasis of education, via its programming, but this time it’s for ALL!

Play it forward 70 years, the artist that created a portrait of Judge Motley, which became a US Postage Stamp, will be available for our collective learning at Historic Lincoln School on April 12 @ 5pm (discussion/signing books). Mr. Palmer will sign stamp memorabilia on Saturday, April 13 @ 9:00 am at the Frame Shop & Gallery in West Plains. The Frame Shop & Gallery will be selling the exclusive piece of memorabilia that will be signed by Mr. Palmer. Get yours early, along with your copy of the “New Brownies’ Book and Gravity” at the Frame Shop. A portion of the proceeds are going towards the sustainability of Historic Lincoln School. Programming exists because, WE CARE! Many thanks in advance for your support of our efforts to “remember the past as we move toward the future!”