Brown v. Board of Education

Plessy v. Ferguson

May 18, 1896

<a href='' >http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plessy_v._Ferguson</a> Supreme Court establishes the doctrine of "separate but equal" facilities for blacks and whites.

Charles Houston meets Thurgood Marshall

Jul 24, 1930

While a law professor at Howard University, Charles Houston of the NAACP meets a promising young student named Thurgood Marshall.

Thurgood Marshall joins NAACP

Oct 24, 1936

Marshall joins the NAACP and develops the legal strategy that leads to Brown.

Sweatt v. Painter

Jun 5, 1950

<a href='' >http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweatt_v._Painter</a>

First arguments in Brown are heard

Dec 9, 1952

Chief Justice Vinson Dies

Sep 8, 1953

<a href='' >http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_M._Vinson</a>

Earl Warren is named new Chief Justice

Sep 24, 1953

<a href='' >http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earl_Warren</a>

Brown is reargued with new Chief Justice Warren

Dec 8, 1953

Brown Decision

May 17, 1954

<a href='' >http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_v._Board_of_Education</a> Court overturns Plessy and the doctrine of separate but equal

Supreme Court tries to implement Brown

Mar 15, 1955

The only instruction they give is that desegregation must be done with "all deliberate speed."

Little Rock Nine

Sep 4, 1957

<a href='' >http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Rock_Nine</a> Problems with implementation are found all over the country, but the Little Rock Nine in particular show how difficult a process integration will be.