Brown V. Board of Education

“Separate but Equal” In 1892 Homer Plessy, from New Orleans, Louisiana, bought a first class train ticket to Covington, Louisiana. He was ejected by a train conductor from a car assigned for whites only. He sued the conductor and the State of Louisiana under the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment.

“Separate but Equal”

“Separate but Equal” 14th amendment says… “…nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

“Separate but Equal” However, in 1894 the Supreme Court found that "separate but equal" facilities for blacks and whites were constitutional and legal in the United States.

“colored” entrance to a movie theater

Linda Brown Attending public school in Topeka Kansas (1952)

Linda Brown Each day she had to walk for miles to catch a bus to school. She had to walk through rail yards and unsafe areas.

Linda Brown All this even though there was a school on her block… But it was all white, so she could not go there…

Linda Brown Her family sued saying that “Separate but equal” was unconstitutional

Brown V. Board of Ed. They hired a brilliant lawyer named Thurgood Marshall

Brown V. Board of Ed.

Brown V. Board of Ed. The Supreme Court heard the case in 1954 and used the same part of the 14th Amendment… “…nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

To render an historic decision… Brown V. Board of Ed. To render an historic decision…

White resistance…

White resistance…

Government Steps in…

Thurgood Marshall Became the first African American Supreme Court justice