[3] While Brown v. Board of Education outlawed segregated public schools in 1954, Lee County opted to ignore the ruling.
In 1964, a student named Rosalind Blalock attempted to enroll in Fort Myers High School, but was denied admission to the whites-only school.
A court case filed on her behalf by the NAACP resulted in a court order that forced Lee County to begin integrating the public schools.
Prior to that time, Lee maintained a system that was separate but not equal for minority students.
The situation was often tense, with a riot breaking out at Fort Myers High School, and administrators at Fort Myers High School pretended not to recognize a black coach, causing police officers to send attack dogs after him.