Black Segregation - Brown v Board of Education - Essay Example

Black Segregation Brown v. Board of Education This case is essentially a consolidation of a number of cases from different states of America where segregation had become prominent. Most public schools in the south permitted segregation and racial discrimination and the children of the black Americans seeking admission in these public schools were denied. When the ruling on Brown v. Board of Education was being made, about 17 southern states alongside the District of Columbia prompted their public schools to permit racial segregation. This was materialized despite the fact that both the black and white schools were required to be “separate but equal” as provided by law and Supreme Court orders of 1896 (Plessy v. Ferguson case). This was however not the case as schools for the white and black were largely unequal. Most of the federal funding was directed to southern white schools and the black schools were largely sidelined. For this reason, they lacked such basic necessities as cafeterias, libraries and electricity among other learning facilities (Fairchild, 2009). In the year 1954 the Court of United States pronounced its verdict as concerns the landmark case of Brown v. Board where it provided that the racial segregation of children based on the rule of “separate but equal” as directed by the provision of the 1896 Plessy v. Ferguson that was later overturned was considered as an infringement of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The Supreme Court hence declared the separate educational facilities as essentially unequal and unconstitutional. The ruling on Brown v. Board of Education case helped to combat the activities of the state in funding and facilitating aspects of segregation that had been corroding the ethical codes of the society. It also served to give the civil movement groups a voice and motivation to fight for the rights and privileges of the discriminated groups (Renzulli, 2006). In history, the root cause for the segregation of blacks and whites in America dates back to the mid 19th century. It primarily began with the passage of Jim Crow laws after the Reconstruction Era ended. These laws were largely common among the southern states but later spread to regions of the Southwest. The separation was primarily ascribed to various aspects of public life as well as in learning institutions and other public facilities and resources. Jim Crow laws hence prohibited blacks from sharing schools, churches, restaurants and other public amenities with their white counterparts. The Supreme Court of America in the ruling on Plessy v consequently upheld this law that allowed for the rule of separate facilities for blacks and whites; this gave a platform for the practice of segregation to thrive in the American society. Plessy for this reason allowed segregation that become prevalent across the southern United States and consequently represented the actualization of the Jim Crow assertions (Fairchild, 2009). All the residents of the state were entitled to various public amenities and resources but with separate facilities on basis of one’s race. In reality, the facilities and amenities meant for the African-Americans were largely of lower quality as compared to those used by the whites; for instance, the schools for the blacks lacked basic facilities and received less funding. This marked the height of racial discrimination and segregation in America. This law on segregation faced great opposition from the blacks across the state as rebellion took center stage. In the year 1935, the National Association for Advancement of Colored People (NAAC) stood to challenge schools that practiced segregation through a series of court cases with little success. Later in 1951, Brown presented the case of segregation squarely before the Supreme Court hence the historic case of Brown v. Board of Education. The ruling marked the beginning of a free state and equal rights for all in America. The court ordered schools in the aforementioned states to upgrade their services and increase funding for the African American schools relative to their white counterparts in the ruling made by Warren; that discarded the Plessy dogma. It ruled that the separate learning environment was uneven and the doctrine had been riding on the intangible inequalities of segregation to unfairly treat the blacks and override on their rights and privileges. The course of finding justice was not an easy road for the plaintiff and individuals who took an active role in fighting segregation. After the lawsuits were filled, a number of plaintiffs lost their jobs and so did their family members while others ended up having their accounts frozen. The reprisal was arguably the most brutal in South Carolina where the most vibrant plaintiffs were threatened and their properties seized or burned down. Energized individuals, who were against segregation such as Reverend Joseph DeLaine, were reportedly in jeopardy with death threats to the point that he fled from the state never to come back. Others like Judge Waring was forced out of the bench following frequent harassment and threats that led to his sudden withdrawal from the panel in 1952; he went for early retirement to his new residence in New York City. This is a clear demonstration of the retaliation and strong opposition that the case faced from the whites in influential positions of power committed to maintaining the status quo. Thurgood Marshall and other lawyers who believed in the rule of law were however not shaken by what was transpiring on the sides but instead showed their determination to guaranteeing justice at whatever cost. Marshall who was a chief legal counsel for the NAACP, was very categorical on civil rights cases related to various aspects of inequalities between the black and whites, Brown v. Board of Education being one of those cases that he took great interest in. He essentially cited that the state was unfairly imposing rules and policies that were inherently discriminatory in all sense and emotionally damaging. After the High Court ruled his favor, Marshall demonstrated his satisfaction and contentment to the ruling. He later on became one of the first black judges in the Supreme Court from 1967 through to 1991. The commitment demonstrated by a team of activists and lawyers from the black society who were relentless in the course of seeking justice and fair hearings finally got a breakthrough from the corridors of justice. The ruling had a great significance as it led to the racial minorities having a voice of their own. It also served to make the blacks have a sense of belonging like their white counterparts. This breakthrough in search for justice gave most civil right movements a head start and the requisite motivation in the quest for equal rights and freedom regardless of race, tribe, skin color or political ideologies. Despite the fact that the Brown v. Board of Education made remarkable positive steps and advancements in education, school segregation has not been completely dealt with. In New York City for instance, over 60% of public schools have 90 percent blacks and Hispanics with 1 percent or less white students. The same applies to white schools; this is a clear demonstration that the whites are more confident and at peace when with their fellow whites than blacks and hence there is an evident separation between the various races since time immemorial. The Court has published an implementation guideline for the federal courts to oversee school desegregation on an unbiased foundation and hence build a holistic society that brings the best from the citizens. References Fairchild, G. (2009). Racial segregation in the public schools and adult labor market outcomes: the case of black Americans. Small Business Economics, 33(4), 467-484. doi:10.1007/s11187-009-9202-x Farinde, A. A., Adams, T., & Ewis, C. L. (2014). Segregation Revisited: The Racial Education Landscape of Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools. Western Journal Of Black Studies, 38(3), 177-183. Renzulli, L. A. (2006). District Segregation, Race Legislation, and Black Enrollment in Charter Schools. Social Science Quarterly (Wiley-Blackwell), 87(3), 618-637. Read More