A New Perspective on 1971 Minneapolis
Derek Francis released a children's book this year that documents a pivotal moment in Minnesota history. The book, titled Our First Bus Ride, focuses on the 1971 integration pairing between Hale Elementary and Field Elementary in Minneapolis. This integration plan brought together a majority-Black school and a majority-White school in an attempt to combat systemic segregation in the city. Francis, who worked as a school counselor at North High, notes that this history remained absent from his own education.
He states that while he learned about integration events in places like New Orleans, the specific history of his home state was not taught. Francis intends to change that narrative with this publication. The book targets young readers and provides a baseline for understanding how educational policy shifted in Minneapolis during the early 1970s. It moves beyond abstract policy by focusing on the lived experience of two children caught in the transition.
The Friends at the Center of the Story
Molly Johnson and Monica Lash are the subjects of the narrative. These two seven-year-olds were friends before the integration effort began. The book depicts their daily lives, including activities like roller skating and playing with puppies. This human-centered approach shows readers how the policy change affected real families and children at the time. The story details the anxiety they felt regarding the plan, the public backlash they witnessed in their city, and the actual experience of riding the bus to their new school.
Francis drew from his previous work to ensure accuracy in the account. Before writing the book, he collaborated with Johnson and Lash to produce a documentary about the 1971 integration effort. He also sought input from Mike Andrews, a staff member at Field School from 1971 to 1989. These personal connections ground the book in oral history, providing a record that balances historical fact with the perspective of those who navigated the change firsthand.
Challenging Assumptions About State History
Many Minnesotans assume their state lacks a history of segregated institutions. Francis challenges this view directly. He notes that the state had segregated housing, redlining, and restricted access to certain restaurants and community spaces. By highlighting these realities, the book provides context for why the Hale-Field pairing was necessary. He wants readers to recognize that these events occurred within the borders of Minnesota rather than only in other parts of the country.
Francis emphasizes that the book serves as a tool for starting conversations. He acknowledges that topics related to race and history can feel uncomfortable in the current climate. However, he believes the story format offers a soft entry point for families to discuss their backgrounds and the history of civil rights. He views the project as a way to lower defenses and address the past with clarity.
Looking Forward to Future Dialogue
Since its publication in January 2026, the book has become a resource for educators and parents. Francis continues to promote the work through public readings, such as his upcoming event at Zenith Bookstore in Duluth. By taking the history out of academic papers and into the hands of children, he hopes to create a more informed public.
This project represents a shift in how local history is preserved. Rather than relying solely on official government reports or news archives from 1971, the community is using storytelling to pass down institutional memory. Whether these efforts will lead to wider integration in regional education curricula remains an open question for local school boards and history departments to decide.