Brown vs. The Board of Brown vs. The Board of EducationEducation

English 12 African HeritageEnglish 12 African Heritage

Separate but Equal…(Plessy Separate but Equal…(Plessy vs. Ferguson)vs. Ferguson)

Supreme Court CasesSupreme Court Cases

Legal Legal Precedent Precedent

Two FAMOUS American Supreme Court Two FAMOUS American Supreme Court Cases – What are they?Cases – What are they?

This one – Brown vs. the Board of This one – Brown vs. the Board of EducationEducation

Roe vs. Wade – (interesting 13Roe vs. Wade – (interesting 13thth amendment connection)amendment connection)

Topeka Kansas - 1951Topeka Kansas - 1951 Linda Brown – grade 3Linda Brown – grade 3

1 mile from school – 1 mile from school – crossed a railway to get to crossed a railway to get to schoolschool

Could not attend her white Could not attend her white neighborhood schoolneighborhood school

Brown, supported by the Brown, supported by the NAACP, began a CLASS NAACP, began a CLASS ACTION LAWSUITACTION LAWSUIT

The ArgumentsThe Arguments Fourteenth Fourteenth

Amendment ("no Amendment ("no State shall... deny to State shall... deny to any person... the any person... the equal protection of equal protection of the laws.")the laws.")

White lawyers argued White lawyers argued that segregation in that segregation in schools was a good schools was a good thing, because it thing, because it prepared children for prepared children for segregation in life. segregation in life. Honest to god.Honest to god.

First Decision (1951)First Decision (1951)

The US District Court for the District of The US District Court for the District of Kansas found in favor of the Board of Kansas found in favor of the Board of EducationEducation

The judges noted that there was no legal The judges noted that there was no legal precedent to strike down Plessy vs. precedent to strike down Plessy vs. Ferguson (“Separate but Equal”)Ferguson (“Separate but Equal”)

The NAACP appealed to the Supreme CourtThe NAACP appealed to the Supreme Court

SUPREME CourtSUPREME Court

Class action combined with school Class action combined with school segregation challenges from South segregation challenges from South Carolina, Delaware and VirginiaCarolina, Delaware and Virginia

Still named for BrownStill named for Brown The big question – were “equal” The big question – were “equal”

opportunities being limited by opportunities being limited by segregated schools?segregated schools?

May 17May 17thth, 1954, 1954

UNANIMOUS decisionUNANIMOUS decision ““Separate but equal Separate but equal

is inherently is inherently unequal”unequal”

Only applied to Only applied to schools, but set a schools, but set a legal precedentlegal precedent

All Jim Crow/ All Jim Crow/ Segregation laws Segregation laws challenged after that challenged after that

Public ResponsePublic Response

Public ResponsePublic Response

Public ResponsePublic Response

““2-4-6-8”2-4-6-8”

““We don’t wanna integrate!”We don’t wanna integrate!” No one enrolled right awayNo one enrolled right away Schools used public pressure, Schools used public pressure,

military, local police to stop military, local police to stop integration integration

Threats of violence and lynchingThreats of violence and lynching Angry responses in the mediaAngry responses in the media

Using the Precedent…Using the Precedent…

The Little Rock NineThe Little Rock Nine Integration of collegesIntegration of colleges Jim Crow challenges Jim Crow challenges Lunch countersLunch counters Water fountainsWater fountains Hiring practicesHiring practices

Review Questions for Review Questions for DiscussionDiscussion

What right did the Fourteenth Amendment What right did the Fourteenth Amendment give citizens? give citizens?

What problems did Linda Brown encounter What problems did Linda Brown encounter in Topeka that eventually resulted in this in Topeka that eventually resulted in this case? case?

What precedent did the What precedent did the PlessyPlessy v. v. FergusonFerguson (1896) ruling establish? How was that (1896) ruling establish? How was that precedent related to precedent related to BrownBrown? ?

This case is based on what the concept of This case is based on what the concept of "equality" means. What are the conflicting "equality" means. What are the conflicting points of view on this concept in this case? points of view on this concept in this case?

Read “Desegregation and the Read “Desegregation and the Future”Future”

1956 speech by Martin Luther King 1956 speech by Martin Luther King Jr.Jr.

1.List at least three points he makes about 1.List at least three points he makes about the nature of segregationthe nature of segregation

2.What vision does he have of the future in 2.What vision does he have of the future in light of the Brown vs. Board of Education light of the Brown vs. Board of Education decision?decision?

3.How does he use rhetoric (ethos, pathos 3.How does he use rhetoric (ethos, pathos and logos) to persuade in his speech? and logos) to persuade in his speech? Cite specific examples to support your Cite specific examples to support your ideas.ideas.