unit 6: inclusion: the politics of the african american struggle for freedom & citizenship...

Unit 6: Inclusion: The Politics of the African Unit 6: Inclusion: The Politics of the African American Struggle for Freedom & CitizenshipAmerican Struggle for Freedom & Citizenship

Plessy v. Ferguson:Plessy v. Ferguson:

Integration & the Integration & the Supreme CourtSupreme Court

PART 1PART 1

The CaseThe Case On June 7, 1892, Homer On June 7, 1892, Homer

Plessy boarded a car of the Plessy boarded a car of the East Louisiana Railroad that East Louisiana Railroad that was designated by whites for was designated by whites for use by white patrons only. use by white patrons only.

He did this purposely in order He did this purposely in order to start a test case to to start a test case to challenge LA law which challenge LA law which segregated trains.segregated trains.

Although Plessy was 1/8 black Although Plessy was 1/8 black and 7/8 white, under and 7/8 white, under Louisiana state law he was Louisiana state law he was classified as an African-classified as an African-American, and thus required American, and thus required to sit in the "colored" car.to sit in the "colored" car.

When he refused, he was When he refused, he was promptly arrested.promptly arrested.

The RulingThe Ruling In 1896, the Supreme In 1896, the Supreme

Court ruled (7-1) in Court ruled (7-1) in Plessy Plessy v. Ferguson v. Ferguson that a that a Louisiana law mandating Louisiana law mandating separate but equal separate but equal accommodations for accommodations for blacks and whites on blacks and whites on intrastate railroads was intrastate railroads was constitutional. This case constitutional. This case was later applied to other was later applied to other public places like schools.public places like schools.

The court disagreed with The court disagreed with the Plessy’s lawyer’s the Plessy’s lawyer’s arguments that arguments that segregation violated the segregation violated the equal protection clause of equal protection clause of the 14the 14thth Amendment. Amendment.

The ImplicationsThe Implications According to the Supreme Court, segregation was According to the Supreme Court, segregation was

legal as long as schools were equal for blacks and legal as long as schools were equal for blacks and whites. Few schools for blacks, however, were whites. Few schools for blacks, however, were actually equal in quality to schools for whites.actually equal in quality to schools for whites.

The SchoolsThe Schools

The glaring inequalities between black and white schools underscored the need for The glaring inequalities between black and white schools underscored the need for social change in American race relations. Black parents and community leaders social change in American race relations. Black parents and community leaders denounced the broken-down school buildings, outdated secondhand schoolbooks, denounced the broken-down school buildings, outdated secondhand schoolbooks, scarce resources, and inadequate supplies. Public school inequalities mirrored the scarce resources, and inadequate supplies. Public school inequalities mirrored the second-class status of African Americans in American society. second-class status of African Americans in American society.

Harlan’s DissentHarlan’s Dissent Justice John Marshall Harlan, Justice John Marshall Harlan,

whose father had owned whose father had owned slaves, was the only dissenter slaves, was the only dissenter in the decision.in the decision.

He was born in Kentucky and He was born in Kentucky and had served for the Union had served for the Union during the Civil War.during the Civil War.

He was appointed justice by He was appointed justice by President Hayes who had President Hayes who had taken office through the taken office through the Compromise of 1877.Compromise of 1877.

He said that this decision was He said that this decision was like the Dred Scott case from like the Dred Scott case from 1857.1857.

Unit 6: Inclusion: The Politics of the African Unit 6: Inclusion: The Politics of the African American Struggle for Freedom & CitizenshipAmerican Struggle for Freedom & Citizenship

Brown v. the Board of Brown v. the Board of Education of Topeka, Education of Topeka,

KS:KS:

Integration & the Integration & the Supreme CourtSupreme Court

PART 2PART 2

The NAACPThe NAACP

Legal Defense and Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Educational Fund, 19401940 Fought segregation Fought segregation

and discriminationand discrimination Education, housing, Education, housing,

employment, and employment, and politicspolitics

Constance Baker Motley endured many hardships and even assaults as she Constance Baker Motley endured many hardships and even assaults as she tried school desegregation cases in the South. Here she leaves the federal court tried school desegregation cases in the South. Here she leaves the federal court in Birmingham after an unsuccessful attempt to force the University of Alabama in Birmingham after an unsuccessful attempt to force the University of Alabama to accept a black student. She was the second black graduate from Columbia to accept a black student. She was the second black graduate from Columbia University Law School & was inspired to become a lawyer by the work that University Law School & was inspired to become a lawyer by the work that NAACP lawyers were doing. Black lawyers were sometimes assaulted.NAACP lawyers were doing. Black lawyers were sometimes assaulted.

PrecedentsPrecedents

This black student at the University of Oklahoma was not allowed to sit This black student at the University of Oklahoma was not allowed to sit in a classroom with white students. It took two Supreme Court decisions in a classroom with white students. It took two Supreme Court decisions in 1948 and 1950 to end such segregation at the University of Oklahoma. in 1948 and 1950 to end such segregation at the University of Oklahoma.

SOURCE: Corbis/Bettmann

The Case The Case In 1950, when the all-white In 1950, when the all-white Sumner School in Topeka, Sumner School in Topeka, Kansas, refused to admit Linda Kansas, refused to admit Linda Brown (1943–), her father, Oliver Brown (1943–), her father, Oliver Brown, filed a lawsuit and Brown, filed a lawsuit and testified in court that his testified in court that his daughter had to travel an hour daughter had to travel an hour and twenty minutes to attend a and twenty minutes to attend a black school. black school.

The Brown family had been The Brown family had been recruited to challenge recruited to challenge segregation.segregation.

The Sumner School was only The Sumner School was only seven blocks away but seven blocks away but practiced racial exclusion. practiced racial exclusion.

Linda became the “named Linda became the “named plaintiff” in the landmark U.S. plaintiff” in the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case, Supreme Court case, Brown v. Brown v. Board of EducationBoard of Education (1954) (1954) that declared unconstitutional that declared unconstitutional laws mandating public school laws mandating public school segregation. segregation.

The CaseThe Case The final Brown case had been preceded The final Brown case had been preceded

by years of groundwork and other cases.by years of groundwork and other cases. In In Briggs v. Elliott Briggs v. Elliott in 1950, NAACP lawyers and in 1950, NAACP lawyers and

a SC parent challenged the lack of buses for a SC parent challenged the lack of buses for black elementary school children in one black elementary school children in one district.district.

Cases like this were combined into the Cases like this were combined into the Brown Brown case.case.

Advisors including famous black historian Advisors including famous black historian John Hope Franklin helped build the case.John Hope Franklin helped build the case.

The main lawyers in the case were, The main lawyers in the case were, Constance Baker Motley, Robert Carter, Constance Baker Motley, Robert Carter, Jack Greenberg and Thurgood Marshall.Jack Greenberg and Thurgood Marshall.

Thurgood MarshallThurgood Marshall

““Twentieth century America, fighting racism at Twentieth century America, fighting racism at home and abroad, has rejected the race home and abroad, has rejected the race views of views of Plessy v. FergusonPlessy v. Ferguson because we have because we have come to the realization that such views come to the realization that such views obviously tend to preserve not the strength obviously tend to preserve not the strength but the weakness of our heritage.”but the weakness of our heritage.”

•Marshall was born in Maryland, the grandson of a slave.

•Was denied admission to University of Maryland Law School because he was black so he went to Howard instead.

•From there he went to the NAACP, then he became a federal judge and in 1967 he was confirmed as the first Black Supreme Court justice. He had been nominated by President Lyndon Baines Johnson.

Earl WarrenEarl Warren

““To separate them [black children] from others To separate them [black children] from others of similar age and qualifications solely of similar age and qualifications solely because of their race generates a feeling of because of their race generates a feeling of inferiority as to the status in the community inferiority as to the status in the community that may affect their hearts and minds in a that may affect their hearts and minds in a way unlikely ever to be undone…We conclude way unlikely ever to be undone…We conclude that in the field of public education the that in the field of public education the doctrine of ‘separate but equal’ has no place. doctrine of ‘separate but equal’ has no place. Separate educational facilities are inherently Separate educational facilities are inherently unequal.”unequal.”

•Appointed by President Eisenhower after being a 3 term governor of CA.

•Eisenhower had assumed Warren would be conservative, but he turned out to be unabashedly liberal causing Eisenhower to regret the appointment.

The RulingThe Ruling In 1954 the Supreme In 1954 the Supreme

Court ruled (9-0) in Court ruled (9-0) in Brown v. Board of Brown v. Board of EducationEducation that that segregated schools segregated schools were were unconstitutional unconstitutional because although because although they were separate, they were separate, they were not equal. they were not equal.

George E.C. Hayes, left, Thurgood Marshall, center, and James M. Nabrit, the lawyers who led the fight before the U.S. Supreme Court for abolition of segregation in public schools, descend the court steps in Washington, D.C., on May 17, 1954.

The Implications & The Implications & Brown IIBrown IISchools, however, were Schools, however, were slow to enforce the ruling. slow to enforce the ruling. In a second In a second BrownBrown case, case, the court said that schools the court said that schools must integrate with “all must integrate with “all deliberate speed.” This deliberate speed.” This still did not cause all still did not cause all schools to immediately schools to immediately integrate.integrate.

The Implications & The Implications & Brown IIBrown II Dealt with the practical process of Dealt with the practical process of

desegregationdesegregation Ordered prompt complianceOrdered prompt compliance

““All deliberate speed”All deliberate speed” Eisenhower displeased with rulingEisenhower displeased with ruling

Did not push for enforcementDid not push for enforcement

Six states proceedSix states proceed Moderate politicians urged calmModerate politicians urged calm

Hoped to avoid full-scale conflictHoped to avoid full-scale conflict The two Brown cases plus the murder of The two Brown cases plus the murder of

Emmett Till mobilized protests for an end Emmett Till mobilized protests for an end to all Jim Crow segregation.to all Jim Crow segregation.

The Little Rock NineThe Little Rock Nine In 1957, 9 students In 1957, 9 students

tried to integrate tried to integrate Central High School in Central High School in order to receive order to receive access to a quality access to a quality education.education.

This historic event This historic event occurred after the occurred after the Montgomery Bus Montgomery Bus Boycott, but before Boycott, but before the March on the March on Washington.Washington.

The Little Rock NineThe Little Rock Nine

(left to right) Thelma Mothershed, Elizabeth (left to right) Thelma Mothershed, Elizabeth Eckerd, Gloria Ray, Jefferson Thomas, Melba Eckerd, Gloria Ray, Jefferson Thomas, Melba Pattillo, Ernest Green, Carlotta Walls, Minnijean Pattillo, Ernest Green, Carlotta Walls, Minnijean Brown, Terrence Roberts, and Daisy L. Bates. Brown, Terrence Roberts, and Daisy L. Bates.

They ranged in age from 14 to 16 at the time.They ranged in age from 14 to 16 at the time.

Little Rock Central High School, Arkansas

The Push BackThe Push Back The Governor of The Governor of

Arkansas, Orval Arkansas, Orval Faubus, directly Faubus, directly resisted the authority resisted the authority of the federal court of the federal court system and the value system and the value of desegregating of desegregating schools. schools.

Governor Faubus Governor Faubus instructed the Arkansas instructed the Arkansas National Guard to National Guard to surround Central High surround Central High and keep all blacks out and keep all blacks out of the school. They of the school. They succeeded on the first succeeded on the first day. day.

The Push BackThe Push Back A Judge granted NAACP A Judge granted NAACP

lawyers Thurgood lawyers Thurgood Marshall & Wiley Marshall & Wiley Branton an injunction Branton an injunction that prevented the that prevented the Governor from using the Governor from using the National Guard to deny National Guard to deny the nine black students the nine black students admittance to Central admittance to Central High. High.

Governor Faubus Governor Faubus announced that he announced that he would comply with the would comply with the court order but court order but suggested that the nine suggested that the nine stay away for their own stay away for their own safety.safety.

The Push BackThe Push Back

President Dwight D. President Dwight D. Eisenhower ordered Eisenhower ordered the U.S. Army’s the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne 101st Airborne Division into Little Division into Little Rock to escort the Rock to escort the nine students into nine students into the school, but they the school, but they were still subjected were still subjected to abuse. to abuse.

President Eisenhower & Governor Faubus

The Nine being escorted into school.

The Push BackThe Push Back "Cruel mob force "Cruel mob force

had frustrated the had frustrated the execution of an execution of an order of a United order of a United States court, and States court, and the governor of the the governor of the state was sitting by, state was sitting by, refusing to lift a refusing to lift a finger to support finger to support the local the local authorities," authorities," President President Eisenhower later Eisenhower later wrote.wrote.

Elizabeth Eckerd

The Push BackThe Push Back

Rally at state capitol. Photograph shows a group of people, one holding a Confederate flag, surrounding speakers and National Guard, protesting the admission of the "Little Rock Nine" to Central High School.

What happened to the nine?What happened to the nine? Governor Faubus did not give up. The Little Governor Faubus did not give up. The Little

Rock School Board was granted an injunction Rock School Board was granted an injunction delaying integration until 1961. delaying integration until 1961.

However, the ruling was overturned by the However, the ruling was overturned by the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and integration U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and integration was upheld by the Supreme Court in 1958. was upheld by the Supreme Court in 1958.

Governor Faubus ignored the ruling and used Governor Faubus ignored the ruling and used his power to shut down Little Rock's public his power to shut down Little Rock's public schools. During the shutdown, white students schools. During the shutdown, white students attended private schools in the area but attended private schools in the area but black students had no choice but to wait until black students had no choice but to wait until schools were reopened in 1959. schools were reopened in 1959.

What happened to the nine?What happened to the nine? One of the girls, Minniejean One of the girls, Minniejean

Brown, was suspended for Brown, was suspended for dumping a bowl of chili on dumping a bowl of chili on the head of one her the head of one her persecutors and didn't finish persecutors and didn't finish out the school year. out the school year.

The other 8 The other 8 diddid finish out the finish out the year. year.

Three of the students moved Three of the students moved away. away.

The remaining five took The remaining five took correspondence courses correspondence courses from the University of from the University of Arkansas. Arkansas.

What happened to the nine?What happened to the nine? Ernest Green graduated Ernest Green graduated

that year. He was the that year. He was the first black to ever first black to ever graduate from Central graduate from Central High.High.

What did the Little Rock Nine What did the Little Rock Nine accomplish?accomplish? Ultimately, the Arkansas public Ultimately, the Arkansas public

schools were integrated.schools were integrated. The high point of desegregation in The high point of desegregation in

the Little Rock School District came the Little Rock School District came in 1980, when the average black in 1980, when the average black student attended a school that was student attended a school that was 50 percent white. 50 percent white. (statistics from the Civil Rights (statistics from the Civil Rights Project at UCLA)Project at UCLA)

The EffectsThe Effects

The Little Rock Nine The Little Rock Nine inspired further inspired further actions of the Civil actions of the Civil Rights Movement Rights Movement like Freedom Rides like Freedom Rides and lunch counter and lunch counter sit-ins.sit-ins.


This year, at the 50This year, at the 50thth anniversary of the Little anniversary of the Little Rock Nine integrating Rock Nine integrating Central High School, there Central High School, there are mixed opinions at how are mixed opinions at how much they accomplished.much they accomplished. "We thought this was a "We thought this was a

place that would accept place that would accept us," one of the nine, us," one of the nine, Ernest Green, told the Ernest Green, told the crowd. "And you know crowd. "And you know what? Fifty years later, what? Fifty years later, I think we were right!"I think we were right!"


"The forces that "The forces that resisted the resisted the desegregation of desegregation of Little Rock have Little Rock have never stopped never stopped fighting," the Rev. fighting," the Rev. Jesse Jackson said. Jesse Jackson said. "Those who rejected "Those who rejected the dream are still the dream are still rejecting the dream."rejecting the dream."

The LegacyThe Legacy

The LegacyThe Legacy

A statue of the nine now stands outside a new museum across the street from Central High School.

How do the Little Rock Nine impact us today?• Today, the

average black student attends a school that is 20 percent white. (statistics from the Civil Rights Project at UCLA)

• Is that integration?

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Students

non-WhiteWhite

How do the Little Rock Nine impact us today?• The Jena 6 of

Louisiana show us that although integration has taken place, racism is still alive in our schools today.

Multiple Choice Review

1. In what year, did the Little Rock Nine attempt to integrate Central High School?

A.1960

B.1959

C.1958

D.1957


1. In what year, did the Little Rock Nine attempt to integrate Central High School?

D. 1957


2. In what state was Central High School?

A. Alabama

B. Arkansas

C.Georgia

D.Louisiana


2. In what state was Central High School?

B. Arkansas


3. What political leader helped the Little Rock Nine achieve their goal?

A. Governor Faubus

B. Ernest Green

C.Justice Thurgood Marshall

D.President Eisenhower


3. What political leader helped the Little Rock Nine achieve their goal?

D. President Eisenhower


4. What did the case Plessy v. Ferguson decide?

A. That separate but equal was constitutional.

B. That separate but equal was unconstitutional.

C. That separate but equal only applied to trains.

D. That separate but equal schools must be closed.


4. What did the case Plessy v. Ferguson decide?

A. That separate but equal was constitutional.


5. What did the case Brown v. Board decide?

A. That schools were equal so that segregated schools were constitutional.

B. That schools were not equal so segregated schools were unconstitutional.

C. That schools were not equal so segregated schools needed to be improved.

D. That schools were equal so segregated schools should be integrated because it’s right.


5. What did the case Brown v. Board decide?

B. That schools were not equal so segregated schools were unconstitutional.

unit 6: inclusion: the politics of the african american struggle for freedom & citizenship...

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