Martha Lum (1915 - ?)
b. Bolivar County, Mississippi
Gong Lum v. Rice (1927)
Do You Know? Martha Lum was only nine years old when her case went to court.
What: Martha Lum's family sued the Board of Trustees after their daughter was told she could not attend an all-white public school.
Decision: The Supreme Court unanimously ruled in favor of the Board of Trustees, stating that there were colored schools where Martha Lum could attend.
Today: All children regardless of ethinic background are able to attend any school they wish.
(Portrait by Marina Zhou, SFSU 2020)
LUM Martha (Zhou M) Color.pdf305.75 KB
LUM Martha bw (M Zhou) BW.pdf223.35 KB