Fighting For Education Brown v. Board of Education

Background 1896 Plessy v. Ferguson ruled if separate facilities for separate races were “equal” it did not violate the Fourteenth Amendment 1896 Plessy v. Ferguson ruled if separate facilities for separate races were “equal” it did not violate the Fourteenth Amendment Truth was that black students would receive inferior accommodations, services, and treatment. Truth was that black students would receive inferior accommodations, services, and treatment.

The Case In 1951 a class action suit was filed against the Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas In 1951 a class action suit was filed against the Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas Plaintiffs were thirteen Topeka parents on behalf of their twenty children Plaintiffs were thirteen Topeka parents on behalf of their twenty children Suit called for the reverse of its policy of racial segregation Suit called for the reverse of its policy of racial segregation

Named Plaintiff was Oliver L. Brown who had a daughter who had to walk six blocks to a bus stop to go to a school one mile away. Named Plaintiff was Oliver L. Brown who had a daughter who had to walk six blocks to a bus stop to go to a school one mile away. Summer Elementary, which was a whit school, was only seven blocks from her house. Summer Elementary, which was a whit school, was only seven blocks from her house.

Outcome The district court ruled in favor of the Board of Education because of Plessy v. Ferguson The district court ruled in favor of the Board of Education because of Plessy v. Ferguson The court did see that segregation had a detrimental effect on negro students but did not provide relief because they believed that they were getting the same treatment as white students The court did see that segregation had a detrimental effect on negro students but did not provide relief because they believed that they were getting the same treatment as white students

Brown v. Board of Education When the case was presented to the Supreme Court it was a combination of five cases When the case was presented to the Supreme Court it was a combination of five cases All the cases were NAACP sponsored All the cases were NAACP sponsored The case was heard in spring of 1953 but no decision could be made so it was reheard fall of 1953 The case was heard in spring of 1953 but no decision could be made so it was reheard fall of 1953 When a unanimous decision was made it was decided that Plessy v. Ferguson must be overrulled When a unanimous decision was made it was decided that Plessy v. Ferguson must be overrulled

Outcome Supreme Court saw that segregation was harmful to black students and therefore unconstitutional Supreme Court saw that segregation was harmful to black students and therefore unconstitutional Found that segregation provided a significant psychological and social disadvantage Found that segregation provided a significant psychological and social disadvantage Board of Education in Topeka ended segregation and integrated its schools. Board of Education in Topeka ended segregation and integrated its schools.

Significance Provided the backing of the Supreme Court in the issue of segregation Provided the backing of the Supreme Court in the issue of segregation Ensured that all public schools would provide equal services no matter what Ensured that all public schools would provide equal services no matter what Ended separate but equal in public school system Ended separate but equal in public school system