Brown v. Board of Education: Integrating America's Schools

Children's Literature - Leila Toledo

Although the emphasis is on the Supreme Court decision of the Brown V. Board of Education, many of the court cases related to the integration of schools are presented in detail. They are presented from their inception to their presentation in the highest court in the land. Students who study this will learn about our legal process, the length of time it takes, and the courage, determination, and perseverance of those seeking equal justice under the law. Among the witnesses to appear before the Supreme Court was Dr. Kenneth Clark, the originator of the famous doll study on the harmful effects of racism on black children. Unfortunately, a recent op Ed article in the Miami Herald by Leonard Pitts, Herald Columnist, September 18, 2006, indicates that the doll test which was given in 2006 resulted in the same response that Dr. Clark got in the 1950s—poor self image. A good question is what does that mean? McNeese mentions Benjamin Mays as an example of how segregation effected his life. It would have been appropriate to mention that he eventually became the President of Morehouse College, an African American college in Atlanta. This is part of the "Great Supreme Court Decisions" series.