Integrating Rosati-Kain: Norma English Thompson among 1st group of black girls admitted to local CHS
Norma English Thompson helped pave a new path that allowed black girls to attend Rosati-Kain Catholic High School in St. Louis. She transferred from Kinloch High School to Rosati-Kain in 1949 – before school integration was mandated by the U.S. Supreme Court in the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision.
After attending two years at Kinloch, she was chosen by Holy Angels Parish to be one of six or so outstanding black students to attend the white all-girl’s school.
“Norma English was one of our esteemed graduates of the Class of 1951. Among Gloria Waters White and Rose Marie Banks, to name a few, she graduated in 1951 as one of the first African Americans to become Rosati-Kain Alumnae. Coming from a most difficult, but historical time in our nation's history, Norma English is an Alumna our students are very proud to call their R-K sister,” a school spokesperson told The American.
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