Sam Tasby, the lead plaintiff in the Dallas ISD desegregation case, has died at 93. Below are the remarks from Senator Royce West on Tasby’s legacy.
“So often, the media portrays a very bleak picture of the African-American father, or fathers in general. But, in the passing of Sam Tasby, a father who only wanted what was best for his sons, we saw a portrait of a father that made a way for his sons and all those who would come after them.
Sam Tasby fought the system that turned his kids away from attending a neighborhood school because they were Black. He took his plight to court and was the lead plaintiff in a class-action lawsuit that would usher in the desegregation of Dallas ISD schools.
This simple, yet heroic man lost his job and withstood the harassment of his family in his quest for equality and civil rights. The walls that stood between children of color and their white peers came down and because of Mr. Tasby, there were 32 years of court-monitored, achievement- focused decisions, oversight of district operations, and vigilance regarding district academic offerings and school attendance boundaries.
One man, one father who said enough is enough. Thank you Mr. Tasby for standing for our children. Now, who will stand on your shoulders for generations yet unborn.”
In the past, I have met members of his family. Although no one or nothing is absolutly perfect, they do stand for what is right! If only we could have more families like his…