Beginnings of the CaseBeginnings of the Case Clarendon County, South Carolina Clarendon County, South Carolina The county about seventy percent The county about seventy percent

African AmericanAfrican American The schools in the county were The schools in the county were

segregated and unequal. segregated and unequal.

Problems within the schoolsProblems within the schools

Some schools only had two outside Some schools only had two outside bathrooms for over 600 students. bathrooms for over 600 students.

Girls were required to clean the Girls were required to clean the school and boys were required to school and boys were required to maintain the fire at the school. maintain the fire at the school.

Curriculum was lacking. Students Curriculum was lacking. Students were not taught the basics of algebra were not taught the basics of algebra and lacked English proficiency. and lacked English proficiency.

Testing the InequalitiesTesting the Inequalities

Reverend Joseph Armstrong De Laine Reverend Joseph Armstrong De Laine and Levi Pearson began discussing and Levi Pearson began discussing the idea of suing the school board to the idea of suing the school board to get a bus for their children.get a bus for their children.

De Laine and Pearson went to De Laine and Pearson went to Columbia, SC and met with lawyer Columbia, SC and met with lawyer Harold Boulware and a petition was Harold Boulware and a petition was filed on March 16, 1948. filed on March 16, 1948.

Because Pearson’s property was in Because Pearson’s property was in two school districts the petition was two school districts the petition was thrown out. thrown out.

New DevelopmentsNew Developments In order to gain the support of the NAACP, In order to gain the support of the NAACP,

De Laine needed more people from De Laine needed more people from Clarendon county to participate. Clarendon county to participate.

29 families people joined the petition. Many 29 families people joined the petition. Many parents lost their jobs because they signed parents lost their jobs because they signed the petition. the petition.

The First of those to sign was Harry Briggs The First of those to sign was Harry Briggs and his wife Eliza. and his wife Eliza.

Thurgood Marshall with the support of the Thurgood Marshall with the support of the NAACP joined Harold Boulware in the case NAACP joined Harold Boulware in the case for transportation.for transportation.

The petition was sent to R.M. Elliot the The petition was sent to R.M. Elliot the superintendent. superintendent.

Briggs v. ElliotBriggs v. Elliot A new petition was filed by 20 families A new petition was filed by 20 families

that challenged the ruling of Plessy v. that challenged the ruling of Plessy v. Ferguson at the request of Judge Ferguson at the request of Judge Waring.Waring.

The case was taken to a three judge The case was taken to a three judge panel. Judge Waring was in favor of panel. Judge Waring was in favor of the students and Judge Timmerman the students and Judge Timmerman was a segregationist. Judge Parker was a segregationist. Judge Parker would have the deciding vote. would have the deciding vote.

The Judges ruled 2-1 against the The Judges ruled 2-1 against the plaintiffs from Clarendon county. The plaintiffs from Clarendon county. The judges ruled to maintain segregation judges ruled to maintain segregation but ruled for equalization.but ruled for equalization.

Appealing the CaseAppealing the Case The NAACP soon appealed the case to the The NAACP soon appealed the case to the

Supreme Court. Supreme Court. At this point there were four other cases in At this point there were four other cases in

the Supreme Court. Dorothy E. Davis, v. the Supreme Court. Dorothy E. Davis, v. County School Board of Prince Edward County School Board of Prince Edward County, Virginia. Spottswood Thomas County, Virginia. Spottswood Thomas Bolling, v. C. Melvin Sharpe. Francis B. Bolling, v. C. Melvin Sharpe. Francis B. Gebhart v. Ethel Louise Belton. Oliver Brown Gebhart v. Ethel Louise Belton. Oliver Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Shawnee v. Board of Education of Topeka, Shawnee County.County.

The five cases were combined together and The five cases were combined together and because Brown was alphabetically before because Brown was alphabetically before Briggs the five cases became known as Briggs the five cases became known as Brown v. Board of Education. Brown v. Board of Education.

Effects of Briggs v. ElliotEffects of Briggs v. Elliot

Reverend De Laine’s church was burned Reverend De Laine’s church was burned down and he was forced to move to New down and he was forced to move to New York due to attempts on his life. York due to attempts on his life.

The Briggs both lost their jobs and Harry The Briggs both lost their jobs and Harry had to work in Florida rarely seeing his had to work in Florida rarely seeing his family who moved to New York. family who moved to New York.

The Briggs v. Elliot case influenced the The Briggs v. Elliot case influenced the Brown v. Board of Education leading to Brown v. Board of Education leading to one of the most land mark decisions that one of the most land mark decisions that over turned Plessy V. Fegusonover turned Plessy V. Feguson

Works CitedWorks Cited

http://www.archives.gov/southeast/http://www.archives.gov/southeast/education/resources-by-state/briggs-education/resources-by-state/briggs-v-elliot.htmlv-elliot.html

http://americanhistory.si.edu/brown/http://americanhistory.si.edu/brown/history/4-five/clarendon-county-history/4-five/clarendon-county-4.html4.html