Brown Decision Papers - US History Class Assignment

The Brown Decision Papers were a collection of the decisions made by the Supreme Court in 1954 (Brown vs Board of Education of Topeka) and of individual students affected by these decisions. The Supreme Court ruled that the previous Court’s decision (Plessy vs Ferguson 1896) of “Separate But Equal” educational facilities for African American’s was unconstitutional.

Document 1 describes the reasoning behind the Court’s decision. They felt that a child cannot obtain an equal education when denied the opportunity to attend public schools with other children, simply because of their skin color. An African American, provided he is equal physically and mentally, is no different than any other child and should be afforded the same opportunities educationally. Attending a separate school would not be considered equal.

In the Papers, several African American children give their views on receiving an education in desegregated schools. One child felt that you were able to learn more and participate in sports. At that time, although he was on the team, he wasn’t able to participate in all games because of the outrage of the people within the community. Although this was completely wrong and unfair, he was just excited to have the opportunity to play when we could. This was something he wasn’t able to do in segregated schools.

Another girl gives a description of how she felt more “normal”. She was accepted by most of her peers as a person, rather than a “Negro”. In her particular situation, she was not able to participate in the sports. The camps that the children attended were still segregated.

A girl in the Deep South in May 1966 rode to school with five other children and several reporters. Upon arriving at the school, one of the reporters was assaulted by someone from the waiting crowd. When the children got off of the bus, the principal told them that the school was full and they could not attend that school. He claimed that the school would be in violation of the fire code. The children later came back with a court order to find themselves alone. Fortunately, they finished out the school year and graduated.

Unfortunately, even though the Court ruled for desegregation, there were still many white southerners angry over the decision. In March 1956, the Southern Manifesto on Integration was written and signed by over 100 members of Congress. They felt as though the Constitution never granted education and the Supreme Court overstepped their boundaries by making the ruling as they did. They were very determined to have the ruling overturned.

The problem with the Court’s decision is that often it was not enforced. The children were forced to fend for themselves when attending school. No one was there to defend them. They were called names, treated badly, and shut out.

The treatment that some of them had to endure was beyond absurd and uncalled for. But because of their perseverance and determination many of these children found themselves with the education they so badly desired. The Brown Decision proved to be the most important decision made by the Supreme Court for countless numbers of African Americans throughout the United States.