Studying court cases often sheds light on important historical moments. The 1954 trial, a class action suit by Oliver Brown and others against the Topeka Board of Education, marks a turning point in the history of the fight against racial segregation. However, unfortunately, racial inequality could not be reversed by a single court decision, and many incidents followed this case. The purpose of this essay is to discuss and assess the implications of the 1954 Brown et al. trial.
The main reason for the case as such was the institutionalized racial segregation in the United States. Judicial precedent Plessy v. Ferguson, 1896, established that the division of schools by skin color did not violate the Fourteenth Amendment, effectively allowing the society division (Duignan). The Court deduced the principle of “divided but equal”, according to which racial segregation is legal if both races are given the same conditions.
In practice, however, this has often meant providing the worst learning environment for blacks. This case caused the formation of the above lawsuit, joined by parents of black children from various states. In almost all cases, the reason was the schools’ abhorrent conditions allocated to African American students. In the end, a collective of parents had to go through two courts, the regional and the Supreme, and only the latter ruled on the unlawfulness of racial segregation and violation of the Fourteenth Amendment (Duignan). This set off a chain of reactions in many states in America, prompting conflicting public and authorities’ reactions.
First of all, naturally, such a decision meant a crucial stage in the fight against inequality. Parents have finally won the right to send their children to schools that provide better conditions or are simply closer to home. Organizations such as the American Federation of Teachers and the National Education Association have played an essential role in supporting this movement, actively contributing to implementing the Supreme Court decision (Dandalt and Marybeth 97).
Of particular importance in the fight against segregation was the further possible interpretation of this judgment. Although the Court directly spoke only of public schools, it was implied that similar measures should apply to other institutions (Duignan). This additionally supported and inspired people to further the struggle for civil rights that unfolded in the 1950s and 1960s. Thus, this high-profile case drew attention to the problem of blacks’ oppression and allowed them to study in the same conditions as other children, which is certainly a positive result of the trial.
However, on the other hand, this case had a broad response, sometimes manifested in rather radical measures. For example, the governor of Alabama personally confronted black students, not allowing them to enter the educational institution until President Kennedy intervened. Thus, the Brown case exposed much of Southern politicians’ nature and ideology and led to many controversies (Bloch Rubin and Elinson 112).
The movement to end racial segregation primarily led to the dissolution of black schools. This, in turn, meant the loss of jobs for many people because, despite the perceived equality, African American staff was not always actively accepted into schools (Peters 530). Such a move disrupted the economic balance, leaving a large group of people without a livelihood. Such decisions also hit the social, cultural, and academic spheres, obstructing many usual learning orders. Therefore, it should be noted that the Brown case’s consequences also brought many adverse effects on society.
Nevertheless, although this solution brought many inconveniences and problems, it was necessary and morally correct from my point of view. The negative effects and devastating impact of the judgment on the African American economy and culture cannot be denied. However, in the absence of this decision, racial segregation in schools would continue, which in the end would have much more severe consequences. Thus, despite some problems with implementing the solution, I support Brown’s case against segregation, although I do not whitewash all of its results.
Works Cited
Bloch Rubin, Ruth, and Gregory Elinson. “Anatomy of Judicial Backlash: Southern Leaders, Massive Resistance, and the Supreme Court, 1954–1958.” Law & Social Inquiry, vol. 43, no. 3, 2018, pp. 944-980.
Dandalt, Ed, and Marybeth Gasman. “The Leadership of Collective Bargaining Organizations and the Brown Decision.” Labor Law Journal, vol. 71, no. 2, 2020, pp. 97-106.
Duignan, B. “Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka.” Encyclopædia Britannica, 2020. Web.
Peters, April L. “Desegregation and the (Dis) Integration of Black School Leaders: Reflections on The Impact of Brown V. Board of Education on Black Education.” Peabody Journal of Education, vol. 94, no. 5, 2019, pp. 521-534.