NAACP And Education Flashcards
What was Sweatt V. Painter? (1950)
A black student was refused admission to the university of Texas - The NAACP challenged this arguing she was entitled to the same education as whites, and the new law school for blacks was inferior (fewer teachers/books). The Supreme Court agreed and Heman Sweatt was registered as a student.
Why did the NAACP target education?
The NAACP saw it was easy to show that although they were being educated separately they were not educated equally. They could highlight the fact it was illegal to do so (Plessy V. Ferguson 1896). Also improving education would lead to an improvement on living standards (good job, secure income).
What was ‘Brown V. Board of Education’? (1954)
Linda Brown was forced to attend a all black school 20 blocks away from her house, when a white school was much closer. The NAACP took this to the Supreme Court and they unanimously decided that segregation was illegal, ending Plessy V. Ferguson’s ‘separate vs equal.’
How did Whites react to ‘Brown Vs Board of education?’ (1954)
-The White citizens council was set up, and supported white private schools and were against desegregation. Raised a lot of money for their causes and campaigned for elections of politicians who agreed with them. By 1956, they had 250,000 members. KKK had a revival in activity, and less than year after the Brown Case, 14 year old Emmitt Till was killed - his murderers were found not guilty by an all white jury just to spite the NAACP. Alabama’s state court also banned NAACP from all its activities. Lastly - the southern manifesto - Senator Byrd led 101 congressmen to sign it, and it argued about how they opposed the Brown Case.
What did ‘Brown II’ (1955) do?
The first Brown victory was de Jure and did not lead to de facto change - consequently the NAACP asked for a time to be given when it had to be done by, so the Supreme Court labelled it to be done with ‘deliberate speed’ - the decision was still to vague for the NAACP liking.
What significance did these cases have?
They were highly symbolic - the NAACP had won a case that struck at the heart of segregation.
Conclusion of Brown cases (Bad)
The cases stimulated massive resistance - with the KKK, White citizens council and judges in local courts opposing segregation. Also the cases showed Eisenhower was not going to use his power to help blacks, as he had no intention to get involved with civil rights.
