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Supreme Court rules "separate but equal" and forms framework of segregation
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Headed by Thurgood Marshall, NAACP is formed to seek equal rights of African Americans
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Progress starts to be made in courts to overcome legally sanctioned discrimination
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The Soviet Union begins to take advantage of American racism during the Cold War
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Linda Brown, an 8-year old African American, is forced to walk 21 blocks to an all black school when there is a white school only 5 blocks away.
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Oliver Brown and 13 other parents try to enroll their children in white schools but are denied.
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Oliver Brown, aided by NAACP lawyers, became the first parent to file a lawsuit against Topeka Board of Education.
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The District of Kansas heard Oliver Brown's case and ruled in favor of Topeka Board of Education.
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Oliver Brown makes an appeal
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The Supreme Court first hears about the case from NAACP lawyers.
Marshall personally argues case in favor of Oliver Brown. He shows the Court that separation makes blacks feel inferior. -
The case goes on hold when Court Justice Vinson dies. He is soon replaced by Earl Warren.
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After being unable to come to an agreement during the 1952-1953 court term, the Supreme Court decides to rehear the case.
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Chief Justice Warren delivers the unanimous decision of the Supreme Court.
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The case officially ends in favor of Linda Brown
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The Supreme Court rules that desegregation was to proceed with "all deliberate speed".
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Integration of schools begins around the country. Resisted by many schools in the South.
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Oliver Brown's case becomes the cornerstone of the social justice movement of the 1960s.
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The Supreme Court is forced to lay groundwork for integration after resistance in southern states such as Virgina.
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NAACP and ACLU successfully got behind the concept of Affirmative Action, the equalization of education and employment for minorities.
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A dramatic increase in the enrollment of African Americans is seen in colleges across the nation.
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70% of the nations' black students attend predominatly minority schools.
