Integration of Schools
by Collette
by Collette
Brown v. Board
of Education of Topeka, Kansas was the landmark case which opened up
the schools in the United Sates to all ethnic groups. Although not a law passed
by Congress, the Supreme Court decision acted as a law. All schools were
ordered to integrate immediately. Most institutions of learning complied in the
North, but southern states were slow to follow the court’s direction. Schools
in some areas of the South were closed for the entire year following the
ruling.
The national media including television
covered nine students as they attempted to attend high school in 1957, in Little
Rock, Arkansas. Governor Orval Faubus of the state called out the national
guard to prevent the Little Rock Nine from entering Central High School. A
confrontation ensued over states’ and federal rights between the governor, the
states’ citizens and the then sitting President Dwight David Eisenhower. Using
the National Guard, the President used the military to force people to let the
students enter over the governor’s orders.
Both the decision by the court and use
of force to get states to integrate were early incidents in the coming Civil
Rights crisis. The following might provide more information.
www.pbs.org/wnet/supremecourt/rights/landmark_brown.html
www.history.com/topics/black-history/central-high-school-integration
www.arkansas.com/central-high/galleries/default.asp
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