starter activity

In 1896 the court case ‘Plessy v Ferguson’ upheld segregation if it was ‘separate but equal’ Compare these segregated schools in the 1950s. How equal was the education students were receiving?

How was How was desegregation desegregation

achieved in achieved in schools?schools?To understand why the NAACP To understand why the NAACP targeted educationtargeted education

To understand the key ideas To understand the key ideas behind ‘Brown’ and assess its behind ‘Brown’ and assess its

significancesignificance

Aims

In 1968, following the assassination of MLK, a teacher named Jane Elliott deciding to carry out a ground-breaking experiment in racial discrimination based on the eye colour of children in her class. What do you find shocking about this film? Why do you think the NAACP targeted education early on in its campaign?

Reasons for targeting Reasons for targeting educationeducation

Inequalities staggering – 1949, Inequalities staggering – 1949, Carolina state spent $179 pa Carolina state spent $179 pa educating white children & $43 educating white children & $43 educating blackseducating blacks

Vital first step towards improving Vital first step towards improving lives of African-Americans – lives of African-Americans – improvements in education could improvements in education could lead to improvements in employmentlead to improvements in employment

Shaping views of future generationsShaping views of future generations

Topeka

Your task

Read about the case of Brown v Board of Education (1954) on p.57-9. List the reasons why Oliver Brown (left) decided to lodge a case against the state authorities and why the NAACP thought they could win.

Brown v. Board of Brown v. Board of EducationEducation

Church minister – thought it was morally Church minister – thought it was morally wrong to segregate schoolswrong to segregate schools

Practicalities - Linda Brown would have to Practicalities - Linda Brown would have to travel 20 blocks to schooltravel 20 blocks to school

NAACP supported Brown’s caseNAACP supported Brown’s case Kansas was not a southern state – more Kansas was not a southern state – more

chance of achieving desegregationchance of achieving desegregation Thurgood Marshall represented BrownThurgood Marshall represented Brown Chief Justice Earl Marshall was Chief Justice Earl Marshall was

sympathetic to civil rightssympathetic to civil rights

Victory!

Do you think the ruling Brown v. Board of Education (1954) did more harm than good for the civil rights movement? Read p. 59 and give 5 reasons why the case arguably failed. Write them around the picture of the girl on the right. Around Linda Brown write down all the triumphs of this case.

LimitationsLimitations No date for compliance set, even after Brown II ruling No date for compliance set, even after Brown II ruling

‘with all deliberate speed’‘with all deliberate speed’ White Citizens Councils formed in southern states to White Citizens Councils formed in southern states to

defend segregation (1/4m members by 1956)defend segregation (1/4m members by 1956) KKK revitalisedKKK revitalised Desegregation varied, e.g. 70% of border states Desegregation varied, e.g. 70% of border states

within a year, while southern states remained within a year, while southern states remained segregatedsegregated

Backlash against NAACP, e.g. Alabama outlawed the Backlash against NAACP, e.g. Alabama outlawed the organisationorganisation

Senator Harry F Byrd began campaign of ‘massive Senator Harry F Byrd began campaign of ‘massive resistance’. 101 congressman signed ‘Southern resistance’. 101 congressman signed ‘Southern Manifesto’ rejecting the Supreme Court ruling on Manifesto’ rejecting the Supreme Court ruling on desegregation in schoolsdesegregation in schools

Positive outcomesPositive outcomes

Overturned Plessy v FergusonOverturned Plessy v Ferguson Moral victoryMoral victory Demonstrated importance of support at Demonstrated importance of support at

federal levelfederal level Legal processes could achieve far-reaching Legal processes could achieve far-reaching

changeschanges

PlenaryPlenary

Why did the NAACP target Why did the NAACP target education?education?

On balance do you think Brown v On balance do you think Brown v Board of Education was a success Board of Education was a success for the civil rights movement?for the civil rights movement?

ExtensionExtension

Conduct research into Jane Elliott’s Conduct research into Jane Elliott’s ‘Blue Eyes, Brown Eyes’ experiment.‘Blue Eyes, Brown Eyes’ experiment.

Read K. Wright, ‘The African-Read K. Wright, ‘The African-American Experience’, p.484-5 and American Experience’, p.484-5 and note down Earl Warren’s reasons for note down Earl Warren’s reasons for supporting Brown’s casesupporting Brown’s case

Read A. Fairclough, ‘Better Day Read A. Fairclough, ‘Better Day Coming’, p.218-225 on the impact of Coming’, p.218-225 on the impact of the rulingthe ruling