Trial 3 Reaction: Brown vs Board

 Brown v. Board of Education was a lawsuit in which four states, including Kansas, had statutes requiring schools to be "separate but equal." Brown challenges the notion of "Separate but Equal," contending that it violates the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.

Brown's theories focused on the transformational effect of integration. Evidence is shown that integration helps children feel welcomed in their surroundings, improves academic achievement, and leads to greater future chances for all students. It was explained n class that African Americans should not receive any less of an education because of the facilities they are forced to be in. Not only that, but there is clear evidence that integration has lowered dropout rates among African American students, resulting in more individuals completing their degrees and being recognized in society. Kaitlyn Parker makes the news: "Children in integrated schools have higher incomes as adults, better health outcomes and lower incarceration rates."

However, the Board of Education takes a more nuanced approach, focusing on the logistical and sociological issues that arise with forced integration. They maintained that the majority of school financing comes from white neighborhoods that continue to pay taxes to keep their schools up to code. We also heard about how in order for Blacks to have 'Equal facilities,' they need to pull their weight and pay their fair share of tax money in order to build their schools up just as their white counterparts have. The dependence on Black Wall Street is used to demonstrate how African American communities may thrive in the absence of integration, as well as to demonstrate economic progress in Black houses.

The Board also expresses legitimate worries about the potential reaction and violence that may accompany forced integration. The idea that negro students would be prepared to thrive in the white education system is simply unrealistic. Integration might create a hostile climate in which Black pupils may struggle to adjust. Before we can consider educational reform, we must first address larger societal issues.