For decades, the law of the land in many states was “separate but equal.” This doctrine, cemented by the eighteen ninety-six case Plessy versus Ferguson, allowed for systemic racial segregation in all walks of life. But in practice, especially in public education, separate was never equal. This injustice became the target of one of the most important legal battles in American history.
In this episode of Wednesday Writs, Stephen and Leah explore the monumental case of Brown versus Board of Education. Discover how this was not just one lawsuit, but five separate cases bundled together, all led by the brilliant NAACP lawyer Thurgood Marshall. We dive into the groundbreaking legal strategy that went beyond unequal funding and argued that the very act of segregation inflicted psychological damage on children, violating the Fourteenth Amendment. Learn about the unanimous nine to zero decision that changed America forever and the long, difficult fight for desegregation that followed.
Research Links
Oyez | Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (I) | https://www.oyez.org/cases/1940-1955/347us483
National Archives | Brown v. Board of Education (1954) | https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/brown-v-board-of-education
Library of Congress | Brown v. Board of Education: A Resource Guide | https://guides.loc.gov/brown-v-board-of-education