Chief Justice Warren noted in the syllabus of the case,
Today, education is perhaps the most important function of state and local governments. Compulsory school attendance laws and the great expenditures for education both demonstrate our recognition of the importance of education to our democratic society. It is required in the performance of our most basic public responsibilities, even service in the armed forces. It is the very foundation of good citizenship. Today it is a principal instrument in awakening the child to cultural values, in preparing him for later professional training, and in helping him to adjust normally to his environment. In these days, it is doubtful that any child may reasonably be expected to succeed in life if he is denied the opportunity of an education. Such an opportunity, where the state has undertaken to provide it, is a right which must be made available to all on equal terms ("Opinion").
Thus, the Court ruled on a case that is still considered one of their landmark rulings - a case that helped change education, and the nation. Brown vs. Board of Education did not end segregation immediately. There were continued fights in local and national courts, but the Supreme Court held firm, and segregation eventually took place. It was interesting to note that all the justices voted the same way on the case. Chief Justice Warren worked with all the justices, and had to convince some that a unanimous vote was the best way to treat the issue. His arguments succeeded in swaying justices that might have been on the edge, and his arguments are apparent in the final decision, where the other justices did not even find the need to write concurring reports or rebuttals.
Today, Brown vs. Board of Education may not be the premier case on people's minds when they think about education, but it is still one of the most important court cases in education and social reform. It reaffirmed the rights Americans can expect from the Constitution and Bill of Rights, and created more awareness of the plight of black Americans. In a book about the case, author Richard Kluger notes there were several other local cases leading...
One was a case also tried with Brown, called "Briggs vs. Elliott," in South Carolina. One of the main advocates of the case was Reverend J.A. DeLaine, who helped black parents join with the NAACP to point out glaring deficiencies in the South Carolina's segregated schools. DeLaine paid heavily for his work. He lost his home, his church, and his livelihood when he was driven out of his home county by vindictive white parents. However, DeLaine made it to Washington to view the Court decision in 1954. He said, "If I had it to do over again, I would. I feel that it was worth it. I have a feeling that the Supreme Court is going to end segregation'" (Kluger 667). DeLaine was right, and although he, and many others lost much, they also gained much in educational and societal reforms.
In conclusion, Brown vs. The Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas was an important stepping stone in integration, Civil Rights, and Constitutional law. Considered a landmark case by most lawmakers and educators, it ended "separate but equal" education, and created a new age in educational reform and black awareness. This case had implications all over America when it was decided in 1954, and it continues to be one of the shining moments in Supreme Court history.
References
Author not Available. "About the Case." Brownvboard.org. 11 April 2004. 13 Oct. 2004. http://brownvboard.org/summary/
Author not Available. "Timeline of the Justices." Supremecourthistory.org. 2004. 13 0ct. 2004. http://www.supremecourthistory.org/02_history/subs_timeline/02_a.html
Kluger, Richard. Simple Justice: The History of 'Brown v. Board of Education' and Black America's Struggle for Equality. New York: Alfred a. Knopf, 1976.
Marshall, Thurgood. His Speeches, Writings, Arguments, Opinions, and Reminiscences His Speeches, Writings, Arguments, Opinions, and Reminiscences. Ed. Mark V. Tushnet. Chicago: Lawrence Hill Books, 2001.
Warren, Earl, et al. "The Opinion" Brownvboard.org. 2004. 13 Oct. 2004. http://brownvboard.org/research/opinions/347us483.htm
