Imagine you are a seven year old and have to walk
one mile to a bus stop by walking through a railroad switching station and then
waiting for a school bus to go to a "black elementary school" or a school where only African American children went.
This is what happened to Linda Brown, an African American third grader from
Topeka, Kansas, even though there was a "white elementary school" only seven
blocks away. A "white elementary school" was a school where only white students
were able to attend.
The Lawsuit Begins
This is how the Brown vs. Board of Education lawsuit was started in 1951.
Linda’s father, Oliver Brown, and thirteen other parents tried to enroll their
children in the local "white schools" in the summer of 1950, but were turned
down because they were African Americans. They were told they must attend one
of the four schools in the city for African American children. These parents
filed suit against the Topeka Board of Education for their children. Oliver
Brown was the first parent listed in the lawsuit, so the case was named after
him. At the time of the lawsuit, Blacks everywhere were not treated fairly. For
every $150.00 spent on white children at the "white schools" only $50.00 was
spent on African American children at the "black schools." The parents of the African American children thought that
their school was not treated as fairly because they were colored. They did not
have the most current textbooks, not enough school supplies, and overcrowded
classrooms.
After Oliver was turned down by the school, he went to the NAACP (National
Association for the Advancement of Colored People) to fight to get Linda in the
school. The NAACP hired lawyers to fight for African American children all
around the United States to be able to go to the same schools as white
children. This case was lost at the state level. The state courts referred to
the case of Plessy v. Ferguson which allowed separate but
equal school systems for black and white children. Since no court had ever
overturned this case, the state courts thought there was no problem treating
the black children that way. The state courts also stated that by treating the
African American students like that now, they would better accept when they
were treated like that when they were older. This was a time when black people
of all ages were treated like they were a lower class or segregated. They were
unable to eat in the same restaurants, drink from the same drinking fountains,
or even ride in the same train cars as white people.
Taking the Case to the Supreme Court
After losing the case in the state courts, the NAACP decided to take the case
all the way to the United States Supreme Court. They appealed to the Supreme
Court on October 1, 1951. At that time there were several cases in the United
States similar to this one, cases that challenged separate schools for black
and white students. They were started in the states of South Carolina,
Virginia, and Delaware. They were all joined together to be fought as one.
The Supreme Court first heard from the lawyers on December
9, 1952. The lawyers for the Board of Education argued that many people,
including black scholars, did not see a problem with having black students
attend all black schools. The lawyers for the Browns argued that the only
reason for separate education for Blacks and Whites would be if there was proof
that black children were different than everyone else. The arguments lasted for
three days and the Supreme Court justices talked it over for several months. At
that time instead of ruling, they asked the lawyers on both sides some more
questions. In the middle of this set of questions, one of the Supreme Court
justices died and had to be replaced. A year after the first arguments were
heard, the Supreme Court heard the case once again.
After three long years the case finally ended on May 17, 1954 with the court
finding in favor of Linda Brown and the other African American children like
her. The Supreme Court said that it was not fair to have black and white
students separated in different schools. The judges voted on this case nine to
zero. It took some states many years to put students together in schools and
have them treated the same because many people were still prejudiced against
Blacks.
Brown v. Board Timeline
1950
The parents of black students try to enroll them in the local "white schools."
1951
The suit is started by Oliver Brown and other parents.
1952
The Supreme Court first heard from the lawyers.
1952
One justice died and had to be replaced.
1954
The case ends in favor of Linda Brown and the other Blacks near her.
one mile to a bus stop by walking through a railroad switching station and then
waiting for a school bus to go to a "black elementary school" or a school where only African American children went.
This is what happened to Linda Brown, an African American third grader from
Topeka, Kansas, even though there was a "white elementary school" only seven
blocks away. A "white elementary school" was a school where only white students
were able to attend.
The Lawsuit Begins
This is how the Brown vs. Board of Education lawsuit was started in 1951.
Linda’s father, Oliver Brown, and thirteen other parents tried to enroll their
children in the local "white schools" in the summer of 1950, but were turned
down because they were African Americans. They were told they must attend one
of the four schools in the city for African American children. These parents
filed suit against the Topeka Board of Education for their children. Oliver
Brown was the first parent listed in the lawsuit, so the case was named after
him. At the time of the lawsuit, Blacks everywhere were not treated fairly. For
every $150.00 spent on white children at the "white schools" only $50.00 was
spent on African American children at the "black schools." The parents of the African American children thought that
their school was not treated as fairly because they were colored. They did not
have the most current textbooks, not enough school supplies, and overcrowded
classrooms.
After Oliver was turned down by the school, he went to the NAACP (National
Association for the Advancement of Colored People) to fight to get Linda in the
school. The NAACP hired lawyers to fight for African American children all
around the United States to be able to go to the same schools as white
children. This case was lost at the state level. The state courts referred to
the case of Plessy v. Ferguson which allowed separate but
equal school systems for black and white children. Since no court had ever
overturned this case, the state courts thought there was no problem treating
the black children that way. The state courts also stated that by treating the
African American students like that now, they would better accept when they
were treated like that when they were older. This was a time when black people
of all ages were treated like they were a lower class or segregated. They were
unable to eat in the same restaurants, drink from the same drinking fountains,
or even ride in the same train cars as white people.
Taking the Case to the Supreme Court
After losing the case in the state courts, the NAACP decided to take the case
all the way to the United States Supreme Court. They appealed to the Supreme
Court on October 1, 1951. At that time there were several cases in the United
States similar to this one, cases that challenged separate schools for black
and white students. They were started in the states of South Carolina,
Virginia, and Delaware. They were all joined together to be fought as one.
The Supreme Court first heard from the lawyers on December
9, 1952. The lawyers for the Board of Education argued that many people,
including black scholars, did not see a problem with having black students
attend all black schools. The lawyers for the Browns argued that the only
reason for separate education for Blacks and Whites would be if there was proof
that black children were different than everyone else. The arguments lasted for
three days and the Supreme Court justices talked it over for several months. At
that time instead of ruling, they asked the lawyers on both sides some more
questions. In the middle of this set of questions, one of the Supreme Court
justices died and had to be replaced. A year after the first arguments were
heard, the Supreme Court heard the case once again.
After three long years the case finally ended on May 17, 1954 with the court
finding in favor of Linda Brown and the other African American children like
her. The Supreme Court said that it was not fair to have black and white
students separated in different schools. The judges voted on this case nine to
zero. It took some states many years to put students together in schools and
have them treated the same because many people were still prejudiced against
Blacks.
Brown v. Board Timeline
1950
The parents of black students try to enroll them in the local "white schools."
1951
The suit is started by Oliver Brown and other parents.
1952
The Supreme Court first heard from the lawyers.
1952
One justice died and had to be replaced.
1954
The case ends in favor of Linda Brown and the other Blacks near her.