SCOTUS Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1954)

Sweatt v. Painter (1950)

- Herman Sweatt rejected from UT law school because he was black. - SCTOUS examined UT and Texas State for Negroes and determined that the educational opportunities and realized that the tangible factors were not equal. - Ruled that Sweatts right's had been violated. - Other factors, such as the reputation of the faculty and influence of the alumni, could not be equalized.

Facts

- Linda Brown(African American) tried to gain admission to the Sumner (White School), which was closer to her house, but her application was denied. - The segregated school system deprived Linda Brown of the equal protection of the laws required under the 14th Amendment - Federal District Court denied that there was any violation of Brown's rights because of the "separate but equal" doctrine established in Plessy

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

- Plessy went on a white only car and was arrested - Plessy argued that the Louisiana law violated the 14th Amendment by treating black passengers as inferior to white passengers - The Justices reasoned that the legal separation of the races did not automatically imply that the black race was inferior and that legislation and court rulings could not overcome social prejudices.

Background

- The 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was adopted in the wake of the Civil War and says that states must give people equal protection of the laws. - Outlawed segregation in places with Civil Rights Act 1875. Until the Supreme Court affirmed the legality of segregation in public facilities in their 1896 decision in Plessy v. Ferguson. "Separate but Equal" - This case is about wether racial segregation violates the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th amendment.

Argument for Board of Education

1) 14th Amendment states that people should be treated equally; it does not state that people should be treated the same. Students do not have to attend the same schools to be treated equally under the law 2) In Topeka, unlike in Sweatt v. Painter, the schools for black and white students have similar, equal facilities 3) US federal system of government leaves educational decision-making to state and local legislatures. 4) Housing and schooling have become interdependent.

Arguments for Brown

1) 14th Amendment's Equal Protection Clause promises equal protection of the laws 2) Segregation in public schools reduces the benefits of education to black children 3) State-sponsored segregation creates and reinforces feelings of superiority among whites and inferiority among blacks. It undermines black student's motivation 4) At least two of the high schools in Topeka, Kansas, had already been desegregated with no negative effects. 5) Segregation is morally wrong

Decision

1) Unanimous ruling for Linda Brown and other students 2) Ruled that segregation in public schools violates the 14th Amendment's Equal Protection Clause. 3) Segregating children in public education created and perpetuated the idea that African-American children held a lower status in the community than white children 4) Court must instead examine the more subtle, intangible effect of segregation on the system of public education.

Constitutional Amendments and Precedents

14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

Issue

Does segregation of public schools by race violate the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment?