Black leaders commemorate 70 years of Brown v. Board with call to action

Some of the nation’s most prominent black political leaders and advocates celebrated the 70th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education on Friday and called for more efforts to end current racial discrimination.

Many Black leaders have expressed concern about limited Black history and diversity, equity and inclusion programs, and the Supreme Court’s decision to end affirmative action in schools.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York marked the incident as a milestone, highlighting the dangers and hardships black students faced during their integration.

“After the ruling, children simply trying to attend school were met with violent, racist mobs, and local officials were sued in federal court to keep their neighborhoods segregated,” Jeffries said. said in a statement.

“Currently the most segregated school system in America can be traced directly to policies introduced by opponents of integration after the ruling,” he continued. “Decades later, our failure to ensure all students are able to thrive on a level playing field remains deeply concerning and unacceptable.”

In 1952, Thurgood Marshall was joined by Robert Carter, Jack Greenberg, Constance Baker Motley, Spotswood Robinson, Oliver Hill, Lewis Redding, Charles and John Scott, Harold R. Brewer, James・Navrit led a group of lawyers called George EC Hayes in the discussion. A series of five cases filed in the Supreme Court.

These cases, grouped together under Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, challenged the “shameful” separate but equal doctrine asserted by the court in Plessy v. Ferguson.

“Brown’s origins lie in 1619, when the first Africans were brought to this country and introduced into the enslaved colonies,” said Rep. Al Green (D-Texas). Ta. “That means from 1619 to 1954, approximately 335 years of slavery, convict leases, and legalized racial discrimination.”

“But even after President Brown, we know that to this day there is still insidious discrimination in this country, and we are still fighting it with legislation here in Congress.” he added.

Greene, who introduced the Conscience Agenda last year, said neither the 14th Amendment nor Brown’s legacy will be fulfilled until there is an end to things like school aid and voter suppression.

“We’re opening the door to re-segregating in schools, and if you re-segregating in schools, you can re-segregating in society,” Green argued.

The Rev. Al Sharpton said Friday’s anniversary was as much a day of reflection as it was a day of celebration.

“As we celebrate 70 years since the first Supreme Court decision that defeated Jim Crow in education, its impact went beyond education, instituting affirmative action and That celebratory mood is dampened by the fact that we now have a Supreme Court attacking the right,” Sharpton told The Hill.

“If this Supreme Court had been sitting in 1954, it probably wouldn’t have voted on Brown v. Board of Education,” he says.

Sharpton added that the legacy of Brown v. Board may already be fading amid the culture wars.

“When you look at the fact that states like Florida ban books and other states support it, kids won’t even know what Brown v. Board of Education means.” Sharpton said.

According to the PEN America report, 153 school districts in 33 states banned books during the 2022-23 school year, many of which dealt with topics related to race and racism.

One of the books, “Ruby Bridges Goes to School: My True Story,” tells the story of Ruby Bridges, who became one of the first black children to attend an all-white school following Brown’s decision, at age 6. It describes in detail what I experienced.

Republican-led states such as Florida and Arkansas have also banned or restricted some Advanced Placement African American Studies courses in 2023.

Rep. Stephen Horsford (D-Nevada), chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), said the increase in school choice options, or the ability for families to choose alternatives to public schools, also He said the racism was clear.

Research shows school choice make racism worse In public schools, even today’s schools continue to Racism at an alarming rate.

“[T]Horsford said on behalf of his caucus that, “Despite our country becoming more racially diverse, increased school choice options have led to public schools becoming more segregated and unequal. “There is,” he said.

“The racism we see in our schools is far from isolated,” he continued. “In fact, this is part of a larger effort to deny Black communities access to opportunity in our country.”

“Additionally, a lack of federal funding also contributes to this glaring disparity, which is why the CBC and Congressional Democrats continue to work with the Biden-Harris administration to deliver historic investments in HBCUs. , has prioritized federal investment in early childhood education.” , giving you a head start and delivering Title I funding to traditionally underserved communities. ”

The Biden-Harris administration has invested $16 billion in historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) over the past three years, but a December 2022 study by the Educational Trust found that districts with a majority of nonwhite students It turned out that each person received no more than $2,000. An area with many white people.

For a 5,000-student district, this equates to $13.5 million in missing resources.

David Johns, CEO and executive director of the National Black Justice Coalition, added that while we celebrate the 70th anniversary, efforts must be made to remember those who paved the way for integration.

“While we focus on Ruby Bridges, we also want to explore the New Orleans Four’s name, its story, and what it means to be a physically, emotionally, and mentally traumatized 6-year-old.” Not enough people I know have endured to go to school and have the opportunity,” Johns said.

Ruby Bridges made history in 1960 when she became the first African-American student to integrate a southern elementary school. For many, she is the face of anti-racism.

Johns said the New Orleans Four included Bridges, Gail Etienne, Tessie Prevost and Leona Tate.

Etienne, Prevost, and Tate headed to McDonough No. 19 Elementary School while Bridges went to William Frantz Elementary School. Johns, like Bridges, said he would like to see the three receive flowers for what they have endured to end racism.

But he added that today’s students should also be recognized for their efforts to keep that legacy alive, even if schools limit access to books and certain topics. .

“Some of us are living within a legacy of justice.” [Thurgood] I am committed to protecting and strengthening Marshall and democracy and promoting equity, including through our schools,” Johns said. “A lot of that education is happening outside of school. It’s happening on TikTok. It’s about understanding Fannie Lou Hamer’s teaching that no one is free until we’re all free. are young people.”