Facts of the Case
The case is tightly connected with the problem of discrimination. It occurred because white and African American children were segregated in the public schools in accordance with the state laws while they should have had equal rights under the Fourteenth Amendment.
This case was rather complicated, and it started with the class action suit that was filled by twenty children who did not receive an opportunity to enter the school that was near their homes because of their race. The respondent party included representatives from the local Board of Education. It was also named as public officials. The US District Court for Kansas was the first to consider the law case. It was stated that the separation of white and African American children was possible. Still, each of twenty children was looking for admission on a non-segregated basis.
The applicants attracted attention to the race discrimination that continued after the abolition of slavery. The Court concluded that the children’s rights were violated, but it did not provide any guideline on how racial segregation can be ended.
Issues
“Does segregation of children in public schools solely on the basis of race, even though the physical facilities and other “tangible” factors may be equal, deprive the children of the minority group of equal educational opportunities” (Brown v. Board of Education, n.d.)?
Decisions
The Court came up to the decision that the legislation that was accepted in Kansas was unconstitutional because it opposed the Fourteenth Amendment.
Reasoning
The judges made their decision after comparing the state and national legislation.
Kansas Statute of 1879:
School facilities for African American and white children can be separated. A Kansas statute “permits, but does not require, cities of more than 15,000 population to maintain separate school facilities for Negro and white students” (Brown v. Board of Education, n.d.)
The Constitution of the USA:
Guaranties equality to African American and white children. “All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws” (14th Amendment, n.d.).
Separate Opinions
The applicants believed that their rights for the equal protection of laws were neglected by the state legislation and claimed that the public schools should enrol children of all races.
The respondents claimed that even though the schools for African Americans and European Americans were separated, they remained equal. Thus, no rights were deprived.
The Court decided that segregation should be abolished, as it opposes the Fourteenth Amendment.
Analysis
This case is critical, as it deals with the problems of race discrimination that is on the front burner even today. The case proves that the US is willing to make all people regardless of their race equal even though this process is long-lasting. The decision made by the Court is reasonable, and it reveals the hierarchy of the power in the country.
References
14th Amendment. (n.d). Web.
Brown v. Board of Education. (n.d.). Web.