School Desegregation

Brown v. Board of Education 1954 Linda Brown, age 7, from Topeka, Kansas Traveled by foot & bus 21 blocks to her all-black elementary school Had to walk through a train yard There was an all-white school 7 blocks away Her father sued after the principal of the white school wouldn’t allow her to attend 200 plaintiffs from three states & the District of Columbia were represented in the case Thurgood Marshall, chief legal counsel for the NAACP, represented the plaintiffs

Supreme Court Decision “We come to the question presented: Does segregation of public schools solely on the basis of race, even though the physical facilities and other “tangible” factors may be equal, deprive the children of the minority group of equal educational opportunities? We believe that it does…. To separate them from others of similar age and qualifications solely because of their race generates a feeling of inferiority as to their status in the community that may affect their hearts and minds in a way unlikely ever to be undone…. We conclude that in the field of public education the doctrine of “separate but equal” has no place. Separate educational facilities are inherently unequal.” -Earl Warren

Reactions

Map of School Desegregation 1964 The decision did not bring public school segregation to an immediate end. In 1955, the Supreme Court issued a second ruling, calling for the integration of schools “with all deliberate speed”. In 1964, less than 11% of African American students in 17 southern states and DC were attending integrated schools.

Little Rock Crisis 1957 In 1957, 75 African American students filled out applications to enter Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. The Board of Education narrowed the number to 9, all of whom had strong educational backgrounds. The 9 students, who were known as the Little Rock Nine, met much community resistance as they tried to enter the school.

“For a moment, all I could hear was the shuffling or their feet “For a moment, all I could hear was the shuffling or their feet. Then, someone shouted. ‘Here she comes. Get ready…’ The crowd moved in closer and then began to follow me, calling me names. I still wasn’t afraid. Just a bit nervous. Then my knees started to shake all of a sudden and I wondered whether I could make it to the center entrance a block away. It was the longest block I ever walked in my life.” - Elizabeth Eckford

Eisenhower Responds “In that city, under the leadership of demagogic extremists, disorderly mobs have deliberately prevented the carrying out of proper orders from a federal court. Local authorities have not eliminated that violent opposition and, under the law, I yesterday issued a proclamation calling upon the mob to disperse. This morning the mob again gathered in front of the Central High School of Little Rock, obviously for the purpose of again preventing the carrying out of the court’s order relating to the admission of Negro children to that school.” – President Eisenhower

“And then the whole school was ringed with paratroopers and helicopters hovering around. We marched up the steps in this circle of soldiers with bayonets drawn…. And walking up the steps that day was probably one of the biggest feelings I’ve ever had. I figured I’d finally cracked it.” – Ernest Green

Segregation in Cleveland Public Schools Cleveland Public Schools remained segregated long after Brown v. Board of Education. Pictured here is Central High School, an all-black school. Just a few blocks away was East Tech, a predominantly all-white school.

Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka It was a U.S. Supreme Court Decision that changed America forever. It happened 50 years ago. It made segregation based on race illegal. It said that all children, no matter what their race, could go to their neighborhood school.

Separate but Equal Plessy v. Ferguson was a Louisiana court case that went all the way to the Supreme Court in 1896. The Court said that segregation by race was legal. It said that blacks and whites could be separate as long as the facilities were the same. It started the idea of “Separate but Equal.” It made blacks and other minorities second class citizens. Blacks did not have the rights and the freedoms that whites had and that you have today.

Separate but Equal This picture shows how blacks were forced to sit in different places in movie theaters and restaurants. Blacks hated this, but they were forced to do it by state and city governments.

Separate but Equal Blacks were forced to sit in different parts of bus and train stations. They were forced to get on last and ride in the back of the bus. They were forced to ride in different train cars.

Blacks and whites were kept separate in… Homes: Blacks could not buy houses in white neighborhoods. Jobs: Blacks could not get many jobs that whites could get. Buses and trains. Courts: Blacks could not serve on juries. Movie theaters. Restaurants: Many places would serve blacks in the back or would not serve blacks at all. Schools and universities. Marriages: Blacks and whites could not marry. Hospitals: Black babies were not born in the same hospitals as white babies. Graveyards

That does not make any sense!!! What about civil rights? Civil rights means everyone who is a citizen deserves the same rights. Don’t blacks and whites have the same rights? The 14th Amendment says “Equal protection.” Separate but Equal would give blacks equality, right? Blacks might be separate, but doesn’t the equal part mean they have the same rights and opportunities as whites?

Wrong. Separate was fine with segregationists Wrong! Separate was fine with segregationists. Segregationists were not interested in letting blacks have the Equal part.

Separate but NOT Equal was the reality in the lives of blacks.

Segregationists fought against equal rights for blacks. The Ku Klux Klan was established in 1867 to scare blacks into not voting or running for public office. They used violence and intimidation to stop blacks from voting and gaining equality.

Jim Crow Laws White leaders in state and city government made laws that separated whites and blacks. These laws, called Jim Crow Laws, were made to keep blacks as second class citizens. “Jim Crow” was a character in theater who was foolish and stupid. Calling someone “Jim Crow” was an insult. Here is a picture of the “Jim Crow” character. See how he looks silly and ridiculous.

Separate but NOT Equal Separate but Equal was the law, but many cities and states did not listen. This is an example of a restaurant that blacks had to eat in. Whites had a cleaner, newer restaurant in another part of town.

Reflect… What emotions do you think this man is feeling? What does this man think about segregation? What would you do if you were him?

Reflect and Write Answers Why do you think segregationists tried so hard to keep blacks as second class citizens? What could change their minds and show them that segregation and racism is wrong?

Reflect and Write Answers Imagine you were a black person in 1910. How would you fight against segregation? What could you do to help your community? Why would the education of your children be so important to you?