1. Desegregating Schools

2. NAACP The NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) played a crucial role in desegregating schools. This organization’s goal was to seek equality (equal treatment) for all African Americans. 1,2

3. Thurgood Marshall One of the most well known members of the NAACP was a brilliant lawyer and future Supreme Court Justice named Thurgood Marshall. One of the most well known members of the NAACP was a brilliant lawyer and future Supreme Court Justice named Thurgood Marshall. He was head of the NAACP’s legal section. He was head of the NAACP’s legal section. Marshall won many court cases in his pursuit of integration (an end to segregation. Marshall won many court cases in his pursuit of integration (an end to segregation. 3

4. Brown v. Board of Education In 1951 Marshall represented Oliver Brown in a landmark Supreme Court case. Brown was an African American whose daughter had to walk a great distance to get to an African American school. Brown wanted his daughter to attend a closer school with better facilities. The Principal refused saying the school was for whites only.

5. Brown v. Board of Education Brown sued and after several years the case made it to the Supreme Court. Brown sued and after several years the case made it to the Supreme Court. On May 17, 1954 the court ruled that “in the field of public education, separate but equal has no place”. On May 17, 1954 the court ruled that “in the field of public education, separate but equal has no place”. The court ordered schools to desegregate. The court ordered schools to desegregate. 4,5