Carol Anderson explains how, in many Southern states, Brown v. Board of Education fueled decades of resistance to school integration.
The Moment
Understanding 'Brown' in the Context of Inclusive Education
May 17, 2024, marks the 70th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas, one of the most significant Supreme Court decisions and a major victory for the Civil Rights Movement. We must, however, resist the simplified narrative of the end of segregation and teach a more comprehensive story that includes analyzing Brown’s complex impact, the opposition to desegregation, and the ongoing movement for inclusive education.
Our newest article puts the Brown decision into context and encourages connections to current justice challenges in education—including the political attempts to censor Black history, erase LGBTQ+ representation and limit information that supports diversity and equity in curricula and in public spaces. A toolkit adapted from our Teaching the Civil Rights Movement framework provides strategies and resources for learning about the significance and relevance of Brown today.
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Connecting the 'Brown' Decision to Today's Social Justice Movement
Teach the Supreme Court’s decision in 'Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka' in all its complexity and relevance to the ongoing movement for inclusive education.
Teaching the Civil Rights Movement
A curriculum framework for teaching Black Americans’ struggle for freedom and equality from Reconstruction through the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and ’60s to the present.
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Resource Pages for Families and Educators
LFJ’s continually-updated resource pages offer collections of articles and resources that address a priority topic or celebrate a cultural event or heritage month. Pages may also include SPLC resources and external resource links.
