1. Brown vs. Board of Education 1954

2. Prior To Brown vs. Board of Education
Racial segregation in United States was due to Plessy vs. Ferguson
Plessy vs. Ferguson stated that the doctrine, separate but equal, did not violate the United States Constitution
Therefore, black and white children were forced to attend separate schools in various states

4. Difference Between Black and White Schools
Black and white schools weren’t equal
Black schools had used textbooks, overcrowded classrooms, no gymnasiums, and not enough school supplies
The highest paid black teacher was paid less than the lowest paid white teacher
The school year for the white schools were usually two months longer than black schools

5. Black Overcrowded Elementary School

6. Non-Crowded White Classroom
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7. No Gymnasium for Black Students

8. Gymnasium at an all White School

9. Linda Brown
- Born in 1943, in Topeka, Kansas
- In third grade, she attended Monroe Elementary, an all black school
- This school was 6 miles away from her house
- Only 7 blocks from her house, was Sumner Elementary, an all white school

10. District Court
Oliver Brown asked the principle of the white school to admit his daughter, Linda was denied admission
Oliver Brown went to the NAACP, which hired lawyers for Brown’s case
The case was first held in the District Court
Court referred to the case, Plessy vs. Ferguson, and said that the separate black and white schools were equal, so Brown lost the case

11. Supreme Court
Brown and the NAACP appealed to the Supreme Court in 1951
Case was heard on December 9, 1952
The lawyers for the Board of Education argued that there was no problem with separate schools
The lawyers for Brown argued that there was no proof that black and white children were different from one another, so separate schools weren’t needed
The case ended on May 17, 1954, in favor of Brown
The vote was 9 to 0

12. Effect of Brown Vs. Board of Education
The case gave a psychological boost to the black struggle
Some schools desegregated peacefully and others did not
The case did not provide a precise time frame for instituting desegregated school systems
Many black teachers lost their jobs
Change was slow until the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964

13. Linda Brown Today
- Linda and her sister, Cheryl, share their Civil Rights experiences at colleges - They founded the Brown Foundation for Educational Equality, Excellence, and Research - The foundation provides scholarships to minority students and encourages the understanding of different cultures

14. Conclusion Oliver Brown died in 1961
Oliver Brown, and the 12 other parents, changed history
Oliver Brown will live as a legacy for his struggle with the Civil Rights Movement and his attempt to integrate schools