17th May 1954: Supreme Court Upholds Equality in Education for All - Essay Sample

Introduction

In 17th May 1954, the Supreme Court of the United States of America scrubbed racial discrimination in the education sector by enacting laws to enhance equality education for both Native Americans and African Americans. Brown v Board of Education of Topeka became the major milestone that allowed African Americans to have adequate access to education in American public schools by prohibiting some states from denying the students equality in the education sector. Racial segregation in a majority of the public schools disqualified the African American students from getting admittance in such schools despite the 14th constitutional amendment, which advocated for equality in all learning facilities. Some of the mainly affected states were: Delaware, Washington D.C., and Virginia (Peters 527). "Separate but equal" doctrine emerged due to denial of relief to the plaintiffs by the lower courts. The lower courts established the denial process, mainly basing their arguments on Plessy v. Ferguson, which maintained that the education sector would remain segregated because the law allowed.

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Merits of the Ruling

Brown v Board of Education of Topeka has enhanced the significant educational improvement of the black students. It has achieved this through the reduction of the existed gaps between the "Negroes only" and the "whites only" types of education, which profiled the students based on their racial groups (Peters 527). Through the reduction of this gap, both white and black students now enjoy equality with fair competition amongst themselves.

The Supreme Court decision enabled the non-white teachers to secure teaching positions in schools of their choice. Unlike before, where only white teachers could tutor in racially segregated schools, the Supreme Court ruling allowed black teachers to take up the teacher roles and responsibilities in any of the public schools (Grove and Helmenstine Para 7). This privilege was illegal in the previous constitutions as African American teachers were strictly confined to teach in black student's schools.

The court's decision further rekindled the African American's hope, which led to the formation of civil rights movements to express their concerns and grievances. "The ruling set the foundation for the civil rights movement and gave African American's hope that separate, but equal on all fronts would be changed" (Grove and Helmenstine Para 7). They further opined that the formation of such civil rights movements significantly improved the social status of African Americans as it created a sense of equality in society.

The Supreme Court's decision led to an increase in the African American population in the United States of America due to scrubbing racial discrimination. Initially, most of the black people had a phobia of being discriminated against their color by the Native Americans. Upon the removal of a constitutional act that advocated for racial activities, the population of African Americans rose immensely hence increasing their populations in the United States (Peters 527). The majority of the ballooned populations were the mainly young generation, which involved students.

Effects of the Ruling on the Society

Brown v Board of Education of Topeka had various effects on the society since it was decided at the point where the people's education issues expectations were high. The Supreme Court decision addressed adequately the then ruling of racial segregation where the white students were separated from the black students. The harmonized system of education yielded positive implications amongst the students due to cross-cultural exchange and friendly coexistence.

Improvement in education performance amongst the black students was another critical outcome of Brown v Board of Education of Topeka. It is because the students could gain access to highly equipped educational facilities, which were initially occupied purely by the white students (Onwuachi-Willig 343). Black students utilized such facilities, which enabled them to have better skills and acquired vast knowledge, therefore, contributing positively in society. The acquired skills by the black students improved the societal relations through improved interpersonal relationships amongst the beneficiaries.

Brown v Board of Education of Topeka enhanced the equality of all the students across all educational facilities in the Southern States. All the students acquired the same education quality, regardless of their racial aspects. Based on this decision, it resulted in an integrated and society where all parties lived without suspicions of any form of discrimination (Onwuachi-Willig 348). The collaborations developed between the black and white students in schools extended to the societies where the corresponding community members adopted it and lived with harmony and togetherness.

Contrary to the Supreme Court's expectations to reduce the extensive social between whites and African America, the outcome instead resulted in elevated white supremacy in society (Onwuachi-Willig 357). The heightened situations arose in society when the whites realized that they were still socially conspicuous than African Americans. The escalated white supremacy in the society further led to different social status amongst the community members where the whites believed perceived that they were on higher social class than their black counterparts in the society (Peters 533). It is one of the contrary expectations of Brown v Board of Education of Topeka ruling.

Finally, another unexpected effect of Brown v Board of Education of Topeka ruling decision led to the early forced resignation of highly skilled African American tutors from some public schools. Forced resignation occurred in the process of integrating some of the selected public schools where all races required to be represented; hence in the process of harmonizing the process, some of the victim black teachers were forced to exit their offices (Onwuachi-Willig 357).

Conclusion

Brown v Board of Education of Topeka ruling resulted in diverse implications in the society both positively and negatively aligned. The Supreme Court's decision, however, benefited the African American students and teachers by enhancing the constitutional amendment that upholds equality. African American students got the opportunity to access public schools, which were initially exclusively for white students. Through this move, there was a significant improvement in the grades registered by the African American students, unlike before. Black teachers, on the other hand, gained the privilege of teaching in any school of their choice, which was initially prohibited by law. Therefore, Brown v Board of Education of Topeka ruling enhanced an integrated society with a significant reduction in the gaps that existed between the black and white racial groups.

Works Cited

Grove, Allen, and Anne M. Helmenstine. "Weighing the Impact of Brown V. Board of Education Decision." ThoughtCo, California Privacy Notice, 13 Dec. 2018, www.thoughtco.com/brown-v-board-of-education-summary-3194665. Accessed 5 Feb. 2020.

Onwuachi-Willig, Angela. "Reconceptualizing the Harms of Discrimination: How Brown v. Board of Education Helped to Further White Supremacy." Va. L. Rev. 105 (2019): 343-365.

Peters, April L. "Desegregation and the (Dis) Integration of Black School Leaders: Reflections on the Impact of Brown v. Board of Education on Black Education." Peabody Journal of Education 94.5 (2019): 521-534.