1. How did Brown v. Board of Education help African Americans in their fight for equal rights?

2. Discrimination
unfair treatment of a person or group on the basis of prejudice
African Americans was a group that was discriminated against in the 1900s
North: banned from good jobs and decent housing
South: segregation laws

3. Segregation

4. Segregation Separation of the races
Schools, theaters, restaurants, and other public places

5. Plessy v. Ferguson The court ruled that the separate facilities were equal to those of whites

6. The Civil Rights Movement
African Americans and Mexican Americans stepped up the struggle for equality
There were whites who also contributed
took their cases to court but also protested in the streets

8. Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka
1954
Topeka, Kansas
Oliver Brown decided to challenge the Kansas law
asked the school board to let his daughter, Linda, attend a nearby white school rather than a distant black school
board members refused
Brown filed a suit against the school board
Supreme Court

9. Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka
How should the court rule?

10. “Doll Test” Kenneth Bancroft Clark
designed a test to study the psychological effects of segregation on black children
showed the dolls to black children between the ages of three and seven
asked which they favored
the majority selected the white doll
positive characteristics

11. Supreme Court Ruling
“Does segregation of children in public schools solely (only) based on race, even though the facilities may be equal, deprives (deny) the children of the minority group of equal education opportunities – WE BELIEVE IT DOES! To separate them from others of similar age and qualifications solely based on their race generates a feeling of inferiority as to their status in the community that may affect their hearts and minds in a way unlikely ever to be undone.”
-Chief Justice Earl Warren

12. Supreme Court Ruling
Decision: “Separate educational facilities are inherently (naturally) unequal."
the US Supreme Court that stated state laws creating separate public schools for black and white students unconstitutional (unlawful)
Overturned (reversed) the Plessy v. Ferguson decision of 1896 which allowed state-sponsored segregation

13. Southerners react to the Brown decision
“We believe that the decision of the Supreme Court in the school case is an abuse of power by the court. The original constitution does not mention education. It is destroying the friendly relations between the races that have developed over the last 90 years. We are committed to use all lawful means to reverse (undo) this decision which is against the constitution and to prevent the use of force when the decision is enforced.”

14. BROWN VS. BOARD OF ED – SCHOOLS ARE NO LONGER SEGREGATED
SUPREME COURT HELPED CHANGE SOCIAL POLICY

15. South: whites began campaigns of “massive resistance” to public school desegregation

16. Little Rock Crisis
Imagine you are an eyewitness of Little Rock Crisis. After watching the film clip from Eyes on the Prize, describe what you saw? Do you think the actions taken by the governor of Arkansas, national guards, and white Southerners were fair?

17. Little Rock Crisis 1957 Little Rock, Arkansas
9 African American students were chosen to attend Central High (which was once an all white high school)
governor of Arkansas ordered the National Guard to prevent the students from entering Central High School
President Eisenhower authorized (allowed) the U.S. Army to escort and protect African-American students