Brown versus the Board of Education, a historical analysis of Brown I, Brown II and Brown III

May 17, 1954, was perhaps the most controversial day in the United States educational system. On this day, the United States Supreme Court rendered a monumental decision that would have an impact on the structure of all schools in this country. In time, its impact would extend to areas far beyond the scope of American education. Our public school structure, had traditionally been a conservatively evolving entity; it was totally rocked to the core of its foundation, with the United States Supreme Court rulings in the School Segregation Cases. This foundational shift in American education occurred with the United States Supreme Court rulings in Brown v. Board of Education, 347 U.S. 483.; The United States Supreme Court rulings in the Brown cases of 1954 and 1955 negated a previous United States Supreme Court ruling in Plessy v. Ferguson (1896). The court overturned the "separate but equal doctrine" that had been established by Plessy and further stated that "separate but equal was inherently unequal." This new view was a significant change in the way education had been viewed for almost three quarters of a century.; The Brown rulings tremendously affected the way minorities would be educated in the schools of America. This had a direct impact on the education of African-American (Negro) school age children. African-Americans were the plaintiffs in the Brown cases. Brown's impact was beneficial to other minority groups as well.; African-Americans have gone through the emotional gamete relative to their education or lack of education in this country's schools. There was a period in America's history when it was illegal for African-Americans to be taught how to read or write. There was another period in our country's history when education was made available, after the abolition of slavery, but the proper raw materials necessary to accomplish the task adequately were scarce. The later, was a contributing factor to the Brown litigations of the 1950s.; Unfortunately, the Brown I (1954) ruling and the Brown II (1955) implementation decree did not put an end to the segregated schools in many of America's school systems. Over the next twenty years many school systems struggled with the mandates of Brown. Topeka, Kansas, one of the cities involved in the original Brown litigation would have its own unique set of problems relative to desegregation. In time, a group of parents would have the Brown case reopened. Brown III, (1986) questioned many facets of minority students' education in Topeka U.S. D. #501.; This historical research analysis will seek to explore the dynamics involved in Brown I, II, and III. Educational opportunities for Topeka's African-Americans will be explored to analyze contemporary conditions that led to Brown III. Primary sources and secondary sources will be analyzed to investigate circumstances that affected the various Brown litigations. Implications related to issues of race and schools will be explored in hopes of drawing conclusions that may positively impact education today and in the future for all of our nations' children.