Brown vs. Board of Education

Case filed as Oliver L. Brown vs. The Board of Education of Topeka (KS)

Feb 28, 1951

Oliver Brown was assigned as lead plantiff, NAACP filed the case. District Court rued in favor of the school board and the case was appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Brown and the NAACP appealed to the Supreme Court

Oct 1, 1951

Their case combined with other cases that challenged school segregation in South Carolina, Viginia, and Delaware.

The Supreme Court first heard case

Dec 9, 1952

Failed to reach a decision.

Second round of arguments planned

Oct 12, 1953

Rescheduled.

Unanimous Decision

May 17, 1954

United States Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision that it was unconstitutional and violated the 14th amendment to separate children in public schools because of their race.