Board of Education of Topeka, 347, U.
"separate but equal" are inherently unconstitutional. They are a violation of the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
Brown V. Board of Education of Topeka, 349, U.S. 294 (1955).
The supreme court establishes judicial guidelines for local courts in the desegregation of public schools.
Facts: A series of cases went to the Supreme Court from the states of Kansas, South Carolina, Virginia, and Delaware. Since all of the cases involved the same basic problem-black minors, through their legal representatives, seeking the aid of the courts in obtaining admission to the public schools of their respective communities on a non-segregated basis-all were determined by one decision of the Court. The Kansas case is taken as the nominal leading case. In the various states, the black children were of elementary or high school age or both. Segregation requirements were on a statutory and state constitutional basis except in Kansas where only statutory provisions were involved.
Issue: Does segregation of children in public schools solely on the basis of race, even though the physical facilities and other "tangible" factors may be equal, deprive the children of the minority group of equal educational opportunities?.
Decision: Yes unanimous vote (9-0).
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Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas, decided on May 17, 1954, was one of the most important cases in the history of the U.S. Supreme Court, that is one of the reasons I have selected this case. The decision of the Brown case reformed the structure of education in a positive way. I feel this case is exceptionally relevant to us today, considering the current situation in which our country is involved. This case deals with racism, which is not only considered a reason we are at war but also an issue that affects us every day. Over the past couple of months news stories have surfaced involving racism against Arab-Americans.