Brown v. Board of Education

Brown v. Board of Education, Supreme Court, 1954

Facts of the Case

In the early 1950s, several African American children, including Linda Brown, were denied admission to public schools attended by white children under laws permitting or requiring racial segregation. The cases came from Kansas, South Carolina, Virginia, and Delaware and were consolidated under Brown v. Board of Education. The plaintiffs argued that segregated schools were inherently unequal and deprived African American children of equal protection under the Fourteenth Amendment.

Constitutional Question

Does the segregation of public schools based solely on race violate the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment?

Arguments

For Brown (plaintiffs):

  • Segregated schools are inherently unequal and perpetuate a sense of inferiority among African American children, adversely affecting their educational and personal development.
  • The Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment guarantees equal educational opportunities for all children, regardless of race.
  • Modern psychological research shows that segregation harms the mental and emotional well-being of African American children.

For the Board of Education (defendants):

  • Segregation laws reflect long-standing social customs and practices that maintain public order and peace.
  • Separate educational facilities for different races can be equal, as the facilities and resources are provided in accordance with state laws.
  • The states should have the authority to regulate their educational systems without federal intervention.

The Decision

The Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision, ruled in favor of Brown. Chief Justice Earl Warren, writing for the Court, held that racial segregation in public schools violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The Court concluded that “separate educational facilities are inherently unequal,” and segregation in public education instilled a sense of inferiority that undermined the educational opportunities for African American children. The decision overturned the “separate but equal” doctrine established by Plessy v. Ferguson as it applied to public education.

Significance

Brown v. Board of Education is a landmark case that fundamentally transformed the legal and social landscape of the United States. The ruling declared that state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students were unconstitutional, effectively ending de jure racial segregation in public schools. This decision marked a major victory for the Civil Rights Movement and set a precedent for further efforts to dismantle racial segregation and discrimination in all areas of public life. Brown v. Board of Education paved the way for increased federal involvement in civil rights issues and laid the groundwork for subsequent civil rights legislation, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.