Quilt of Hate, Quilt of Hope

"Laaron Morris, a black gay male, was shot to death and his body was left in a burning car." "In 1957, Elizabeth Eckford walked through a crowd of spitting & yelling whites on the first day blacks could attend originally all white schools." John Anthony Burwell. Paul Broussard. James Byrd Jr. Matthew Shepard. Denise McNair. Lanier Middle School students are learning hands-on about the hate in this country that they are inheriting–and which it will be their legacy to fight and overcome.

Guided by their teacher Lisa Arledge, and strongly supported by their principal, Tom Monaghan, Lanier students have created a quilt memorializing many of this country’s victims of hate, as well as some of the heroes who faced down hate.

"First, imagine a [Houston or Texas] school where eighth grade students care enough about tolerance to make a large quilt," said PFLAG’s Jim Null, who has been displaying the quilt around Houston. "Second, imagine the principal approving the project."