HIGH COURT UNANIMOUS IN STRIKING DOWN SEGREGATION
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On May 17, 1954, the Supreme Court ruled unanimously that racial segregation in public education is a violation of the United States Constitution. The ruling was announced by Chief Justice Earl Warren of California.
The decision in the case of Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka overturned the 1896 Plessy v. Ferguson decision. While that case centered on segregation in rail transportation, the ruling was applied to public education facilities as well.
The 1896 ruling said that as long as facilities were "separate but equal" there was no violation of constitutional principles. The High Court of 1954, however, ruled that "separate is inherently unequal."
The Brown case was initiated by the NAACP in behalf of Linda Brown, a 3rd grader in Topeka, Kansas who was denied admission to her local elementary school because of her race. The Browns were represented by a group of attorneys led by Thurgood Marshall.
A year later the Court issues guidelines for desegregation of public schools calling for compliance "with all deliberate speed".
As you hear in the You Tube video below,
"The era of Jim Crow, Constitutionally speaking, is over."
JFK'S VIEWS ON BROWN V. BOARD
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) President John F. Kennedy was asked the following question at his news conference of May 17, 1962...
Mr. President...
"Today is the 8th anniversary of the Supreme Court desegregation decision. Do you feel that progress in this area has been rapid enough?"
The President...
"I think we can always hope more progress can be made in the cause of civil rights, or equal opportunity. There is a good deal left undone, and while progress has been made, I think we can always improve equality of opportunity in the United States."
JFK At His News Conference
JFK Library
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On May 17, 1954, the Supreme Court ruled unanimously that racial segregation in public education is a violation of the United States Constitution. The ruling was announced by Chief Justice Earl Warren of California.
The decision in the case of Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka overturned the 1896 Plessy v. Ferguson decision. While that case centered on segregation in rail transportation, the ruling was applied to public education facilities as well.
The 1896 ruling said that as long as facilities were "separate but equal" there was no violation of constitutional principles. The High Court of 1954, however, ruled that "separate is inherently unequal."
The Brown case was initiated by the NAACP in behalf of Linda Brown, a 3rd grader in Topeka, Kansas who was denied admission to her local elementary school because of her race. The Browns were represented by a group of attorneys led by Thurgood Marshall.
A year later the Court issues guidelines for desegregation of public schools calling for compliance "with all deliberate speed".
As you hear in the You Tube video below,
"The era of Jim Crow, Constitutionally speaking, is over."
JFK'S VIEWS ON BROWN V. BOARD
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) President John F. Kennedy was asked the following question at his news conference of May 17, 1962...
Mr. President...
"Today is the 8th anniversary of the Supreme Court desegregation decision. Do you feel that progress in this area has been rapid enough?"
The President...
"I think we can always hope more progress can be made in the cause of civil rights, or equal opportunity. There is a good deal left undone, and while progress has been made, I think we can always improve equality of opportunity in the United States."
JFK At His News Conference
JFK Library
