Brown v. Board of Education: Celebrating Our Progress and Fighting for Our Future
There is much to celebrate on May 17 as the 70th anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education decision approaches this year. When the Supreme Court struck down “separate but equal” education in 1954, it eradicated the segregation-era policies that Plessy v. Ferguson had sanctioned — including in housing, public spaces, and postsecondary education. Desegregation of schools presented options for higher-quality education and more opportunities for Black children. And the number of Black people who enrolled in higher education dramatically increased after the civil rights era. The benefits of better education extended into adulthood, as this led to better career opportunities. In fact, more Black people are working in a higher diversity of careers compared to the years before the civil rights era.
The more things change, the more they stay the same
While the Brown v. Board of Education case has transformed the lives of many students of color, underlying and systemic discriminatory practices endure. In the 70 years since the landmark decision:
- Black children still receive a lower quality of education overall compared to their white peers.
- Segregation academies still exist, with some even receiving federal funding.
- Many school districts have successfully resegregated.
- The recent rollback of affirmative action policies in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard and the onslaught of regressive state policies against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) make it more difficult to narrow gaps in education disparities.
At Rooted Change, we know what works for boys and young men of color to succeed in school and prepare for adulthood. These necessary factors include adults who love and are invested in them, curricula that are culturally and healing centered, and programs that operate from a lens of positive youth development. Investing in academics is important, but it is equally important to advance practices that support the growth, development, and rootedness of youth — while building their character, solidifying their identity, and giving them a sense of purpose. Society can demonstrate that it values youth of color by supporting strong youth programs and creating a policy environment that uplifts them.
The fight for freedom continues
Race was explicitly used for hundreds of years to subjugate Black people, first through slavery, then through Jim Crow laws. Therefore, race must explicitly be used to redress the harmful legacy and enduring consequences activated by these policies. As long as people with Black-sounding names are less likely to get hired than people with European-sounding names, and as long as Black and Latino individuals are less likely to be approved for a housing rental than a prospective white renter, we cannot claim American society is colorblind.
As our fight continues, we should advocate for:
- Culturally responsive healing practices in schools that nurtures the social-emotional health of youth of color, which is necessary for them to thrive academically
- Greater resources in schools, ensuring that more youth of color have access to more experienced teachers, college-prep courses, and school counselors
- The reinstatement of policies that counter anti-DEI legislation and lawsuits that are threatening, or have already instituted the removal of ethnic studies courses, minority pipeline education and career programs, and data collection based on race/ethnicity
- Civil rights protections against discriminatory school disciplinary policies and practices
Pipelines to increase the number of Black and Latino teachers in the K–12 education system
Join us in honoring the legacy of Brown v. Board of Education
Rooted Change is committed to defending the rights of youth of color nationally, as well as amplifying the successes of our partners across the country who are gaining victories for youth of color locally. We invite you to attend the first discussion in our webinar series, What Now: The After Effects of the Brown vs. Board Ruling, on June 13 at 12 p.m. EDT. Register to join us as we honor the history and the legacy of the trailblazers from the past and learn how we can ensure that the young people of color of today are free to dream.
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