Before and during this time period, Junior High School Number Two in Trenton, New Jersey was segregated on the basis of skin color. Blacks and whites were forced to be separated in schools. For this reason, blacks had to attend a different school in Trenton, known as the Lincoln School, which was further from many of the blacks' homes. Students often walked to school, which made things very difficult for many black students during the harsh, bitter winters and the hot, broiling summers. The conditions at Junior High School Number Two were also much better than Lincoln's, specifically with smaller class sizes, more rehearsed teachers, and improved construction and layout of the school itself. This angered many black students and parents, however, many were passive about their feelings. Berline Williams and Gladys Hedgepeth were the first to speak out on their feelings about this issue.