Brown vs. Board of Education

 

Brown vs. Board of Education 

Facts: 

Appellant: Oliver Brown, Mrs. Richard Lawton, Mrs. Sadie Emmanuel etc. 

Appellee: Board of Education of Topeka, Shawnee County, Kansas, etc

Decided by : Warren Court

Time : Dec 9-11, 1952– May 17, 1954 

Advocates: Robert L. Carter, Paul E. Wilson, Thurgood Marshall, John Davis, Spottswood Robinson…

What was the Case?
It was a consolidation of cases arising in Kansas, South Carolina, Delaware, Virginia and Washington D.C relating to the segregation of public schools on the basis of race. The African- American kids had been denied admittance to certain public schools based on laws allowing segregation by race in public education. 

Arguments Made

It was argued that secludedness breached the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.

The Complainants were denied relief in the lower courts grounded on Plessy v. Fergueson, which held that racially secluded public establishments were lawful so long as establishments for blacks and whites were equal in terms of quality. This was known as the ‘ separate but equal ’ dogma.

Conclusion/ Primary Holding 

Separate but equal’ education facilities for racial minorities is inherently unequal, violating the Equal protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution prohibits states from segregating public school students on the basis of race. This marked a reversal of the ‘ separate but equal’ doctrine.

It was a unanimous decision. Warren based much of his opinion on information from social studies rather than the precedent set by the court. Despite it being one of the fairest decisions taken, it drew criticism for its non-traditional approach. 

Opinions 

The case has had a sizable influence on us but it is hard to appreciate today how important the ruling was. This ruling has been one of the fairest rulings till now and has worked in the true spirit of democracy. The case brought greater awareness to the racial inequalities that African- Americans faced. The case also galvanized civil rights activists and increased efforts to end institutionalized racism throughout America. Simply put, it was a major milestone in the history of equal rights for all races.

The first question that arises is Does the segregation of public education based solely on race violate the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment?

The Equal Protection Clause of 14th Amendment states ‘ no state can deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws’. By segregating students on the basis of race, we weren’t subjecting them to equal laws and hence highly unconstitutional. 

The ‘separate but equal’ law was invalid as the segregation of public education based on race instilled a sense of inferiority that had a hugely detrimental effect on the personal growth and education of the minority children. Therefore ‘separate but equal’ facilities are inherently unequal and violate the protections of the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. Hence it was invalid.

The second question is that was the separate but equal doctrine valid in its claim?

State laws establishing ethnical segregation in public schools are unconstitutional, even if the segregated schools are otherwise equal in quality.

"To separate them from others of similar age and qualifications solely because of their race generates a feeling of inferiority as to their status in the community that may affect their hearts and minds in way unlikely ever to be undone"

~ C.J Warren, 1954