Leona Tate (born October 31, 1954) is an American activist, civil rights pioneer, and community advocate from New Orleans.
On the morning of November 14, 1960, four 6-year-old girls: Tate, Tessie Prevost, Gail Etienne and Ruby Bridges became the first African Americans to desegregate formerly all white elementary public schools in New Orleans and the Deep South.
As soon as Tate and her peers entered the schools, the white children were pulled out by their parents; for 18 months the girls were the only students in their class.
[3] The integration of New Orleans public elementary schools marked a major focal point in the history of the American civil rights movement.
Her mission for the TEP Center is to create a safe space and community anchor where the public can learn, support, and train for anti-racism activism and social restorative justice.