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In 1918, sixteen-year-old Juanita Craft accompanied her critically ill mother to a tuberculosis treatment facility in San Angelo, only to be turned away because of their race. Craft's mother died two months later. That tragedy spurred Craft—whose grandparents had been enslaved—to a lifelong fight against racial discrimination.

In the 1930s, Craft joined the Dallas chapter of the NAACP and ultimately traversed the state, helping to organize and revive local chapters. Craft was also a mentor to Dallas’s Black youth. She led them in anti-segregation protests at restaurants, stores, and the State Fair, always emphasizing the importance of communication. "Build a bridge," she advised. "Then carry them over to your side." More»