Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka
Brown v. Board of Education was a landmark United States Supreme Court case decided in 1954. This historic decision overturned the “separate but equal” doctrine established by Plessy v. Ferguson in 1896, declaring that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional.
Key points about the case:
Filed on behalf of Oliver Brown and other plaintiffs from various states
Argued by NAACP attorneys, including Thurgood Marshall
Unanimous decision delivered on May 17, 1954
The Court’s ruling stated that:
Separate educational facilities are inherently unequal
Segregation violates the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment
Impact of the decision:
Paved the way for integration in public schools
Became a catalyst for the broader Civil Rights Movement
Faced resistance in implementation, requiring additional legal action
Brown v. Board of Education remains one of the most significant and influential Supreme Court decisions in American history, marking a turning point in the fight for racial equality in education.