Reopening of the Juanita J. Craft Civil Rights House and Museum
(May 20, 2023) Members of HERitage Giving Fund had the privilege of visiting the Juanita Craft House & Museum in South Dallas for its reopening. What’s the significance? We know and recognize that a lot of people still don’t know just how important Juanita Craft was and how her legacy lives on to this day.
Juanita Craft was a pioneering civil rights activist who dedicated her life to fighting for equality and justice. She grew up during a time of intense racial discrimination and segregation. But despite facing countless obstacles, she never wavered in her commitment to social justice. In the 1930s, she became involved in the Dallas NAACP and quickly rose through the ranks, eventually becoming the organization's state secretary. She was a key figure in the fight to desegregate Dallas schools and was instrumental in the landmark case of Hernandez v. Texas, which established the right of Mexican Americans to serve on juries.
One of Craft's most notable accomplishments was her role in desegregating the State Fair of Texas. For years, the fair had been a symbol of racial segregation, with Black Texans being forced to use separate entrances and facilities. Craft and other civil rights activists staged numerous protests and sit-ins, demanding an end to this discriminatory practice. Their efforts eventually paid off, and in 1952, the fair was officially desegregated. This was a major victory for the civil rights movement, and it wouldn't have been possible without the tireless work of activists like Juanita Craft.
The Juanita Craft House is a beautiful tribute to her life and legacy, and we are proud to have witnessed this dedication as a group. We encourage everyone to visit this historic site and learn more about the incredible woman who helped to shape the course of Texas.
We also want to give a MAJOR congratulations and acknowledgments to the members of HERitage who helped with the restoration and reopening or served on the Board of Directions.
Candace Thompson, Board of Directors Chair, Friends of Juanita J. Craft House and Museum
Nikki Christmas, Facilities & Capital Projects Manager, City of Dallas Office of Arts and Cultural
Charlondra Thompson, Board of Directors member
Akilah S. Wallace, Board of Directors member
