Brown v Board of Education
In the time of “separate but equal” segregation, many Black families opposed this doctrine and felt that it impaired their children’s education. In fact, they felt that the schooling systems were not equal at all, and allowed for insufficient treatment of Black school students while being disguised as equity. The plaintiffs cited the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment, which stated that “no state shall deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws”. After all, if both races are equal, why must they be separated?
Breakdown Verdict.
A unanimous decision for Brown determined that “separate educational facilities are inherently unequal”. With the opinion of Chief Justice Earl Warren, the justices stated it is imperative to consider “public education in light of its full development and its present place in American life throughout the nation”. In short, the ruling took into account the best interests of America as a whole, leaving behind past ideologies with a major step in educational integration.
Result Going Forward.
The ruling created a stir in many southern states where racial segregation was encouraged. Most states attempted to integrate in some way, however the South struggled greatly in instilling a new idea in a place of intense indoctrination. Even then, Plessy v Ferguson (separate but equal) was overturned and opened the doors for the Civil Rights Movement.
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