Legal Insights: 

Brown v. Board of Education

by Kate, 8th grade

Racial segregation in schools is considered unequal and unconstitutional today. However, this was not the case before May 17th, 1954, when one of the most famous Supreme Court cases in history set a legal precedent in the ruling stating that separating children in public schools based on race was unconstitutional.

This milestone, symbolizing the end of legalized racial segregation, was a leap closer to equality. Not only was the practice of racial segregation in schools morally unjust, but legally as well.

The central argument brought up in the Brown v. Board of Education case was that separate school systems for black and white students were inherently unequal and violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment, which states that “no state can deny equal protection of the laws to any person within its jurisdiction.” This clause required that every person within a state must be treated equally under the law, which racial segregation in schools failed to accomplish.

Once the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the main plaintiff, Oliver Brown, many changes occurred in the public school system. One of these changes was that the Supreme Court overturned the “separate but equal” doctrine and allowed children of different ethnicities to get the same education and attend the same schools in the public school system. It declared that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional, ending legal segregation and mandating this decision throughout public schools in the United States.

The case began on December 9th, 1952. Although it took roughly 1 year and 5 months to reach a verdict, this Supreme Court ruling forever changed the school system as we know it today. The time and perseverance taken to fight for equal rights resulted in a verdict that shapes our society and ensures greater equality today.