Martha Lum

LUM Martha (Zhou M)

 

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)