In Pursuit of Equality

Crisis, The, May/Jun 2004

"...WE ARE GOING TO SAVE THIS COUNTRY'S SOUL, WHITE OR BLACK, WHETHER THEY LIKE IT OR NOT. WE ARE GOING TO DO IT WITH COURAGE AND DETERMINATION, AND WITHOUT COMPROMISE." - THURGOOD MARSHALL

Fifty years ago, it was illegal for Black and White children to attend the same schools. They lived in a society of "separate but equal." But there was nothing equal about the education Black children received. They walked miles upon miles to attend schools without heat, indoor plumbing or proper learning tools. They braved bad weather and navigated dangerous roads to enter overcrowded classrooms with leaky roofs and learn from outdated, hand-me-down textbooks.

This special report details the story of those who worked to knock down the walls of separate and unequal. It was the unique strategy of talented legal minds, combined with the moral courage of brave everyday African Americans, that yielded the victory of Brown v. Board of Education, on May 17, 1954.

Generally regarded as "the most significant piece of American jurisprudence of the 20th century," for many the Brown decision represents the first step toward the long hard journey to equality. Its legacy is one of hope and progress.

As the nation commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Brown decision, it's important to recognize that Brown was only the beginning. A lot has changed in the past five decades - from the passage of the Civil Rights Act to the confirmation of the first African American Secretary of Education. But some things have remained the same. African American students still attend the worst schools and have the worst academic performance. Education is still not equal. The journey is far from over. The struggle continues.