Emma Jean and Juanita Chance

At the age of 13, Hughie was faced with the decision of accepting the ruling from the Board to ride along the 72-mile bus trip or protesting to help bring attention to the broken educational system in Harnett County for Native Americans. Proudly, he refused the assignment to East Carolina Indian School. After being denied admittance to the all-white Dunn High School several times, he, along with the parents and other students of the community decided to protest with their own sit-in demonstration.

Image description: high school students walking and running to board school buses Writing on top of photograph says, "8/31/60-Dunn, NC: Two Indian girls, Emma Jean and Juanita Chance sit outside high school here-8/30 as white children load up school buses after 1st day of school. The girls, two of nine Indians who tried to enter all white school, were told they could not be admitted as they were still assigned to East Carolina Institute for Indians which is 35 miles from their home. UPI TeliPhoto jhjr