Based specifically on the assigned readings on Mendez v. Westminster and Brown v. Board of Education, please respond to the following questions. Each of your answers should consist of one paragraph comprised of 5-7 sentences. It is recommended that you download the document in Word, type your responses directly into the document, and print it out. If you choose to handwrite your responses, PLEASE WRITE LEGIBLY, in black or blue ink. This handout will be graded on a scale of 1-25, with 5 possible points for each question. You will be graded on the thoughtfulness of your response and your effort to support your argument. 1) How did the majority opinion in the Supreme Court’s 1896 Plessy v. Ferguson decision legally shape race …show more content…
3) In what ways did Charles Hamilton Houston and W.E.B. DuBois differ in their approaches to school integration? Why? [Optional: Who do you think was right and why? You may use extra lines if you would like to respond.] Houston fought for black civil rights through the legal system. He was a prominent black lawyer and believed that legal tradition inspired judicial restraint, whereas legal realism inspired judicial activism. This not only sparked a change in those that worked with Houston, but it incorporated using laws to help blacks with civil injustices wherever possible. DuBois approached school integration and civil rights issues through militant socialism. He believed that blacks needed to strengthen their own infrastructure in order to gain a better social structure. This didn’t sit well with the NAACP. I believe that Houston had a better approach to the issue of school integration because his approach was accepted by more individuals. DuBois offended more people by saying that blacks needed to create a change amongst themselves in order to be accepted more in society. 4) The Supreme Court ruled on Sweatt v. Painter and McLaurin v. Oklahoma State Regents in 1950, and on Brown v. Board of Education in 1954. What would you argue were the most important distinctions between the two 1950 cases, on the
In conclusion, the debate between W.E.B Dubois and Washington was nothing short of remarkable and genius. Although both men had two separate ways about doing things they both shared the same common goal, which was bettering the lives of African Americans. In my opinion, W.E.B Dubois plan to go strongly for African American rights and equality was the better strategy. Not only did he help bring us together but he gave blacks a sense of self confidence that they didn’t possess before. For once blacks believed not only can you be as good as the white man but better. While some may agree that Mr. Washington’s plan to endure the second citizenship title was only degrading and keeping the black man down. Although Washington had honorable goals Dubois gave the people a strong sense of empowerment and worthiness that has helped the black race grows into what it is today.
The Supreme Court has significant impact on molding the society of the United States, so does it play an important role in the process of the realization of equal protection on the right to education. From Plessy to Brown, every case that had milestone meaning indicated the evolution on the equal protection of the right to education, and also marked the progress of American civilization. However, there are different points between Plessy and Brown. Brown v. Board of Education was educational case of black race, but Plessy v. Ferguson is not it; the result of Plessy is isolation but equal, the Brown show us that
W. E. B. Dubois and Booker T. Washington were well known civil rights activists who had practical ideologies for the progress of African Americans. Both Dubois and Washington made many important points to support their philosophy. Both men’s concepts provided great support, though they shared different beliefs. Washington believed that blacks should focus on education and economic progress than ending segregation, discrimination and getting voting rights; on the other hand, Dubois thought that discrimination was unacceptable and did not agree on blacks losing their rights in spite of their differences, they both were well educated men who wanted change in the black community.
DuBois focused on developing education for the African American race and philosophy to develop. This is the second chapter in his book The Negro Problem. He talks about that with an educated group of exceptional leaders, the rest of the African American community would also benefit from this education. DuBois and Washington are rivals during the time that this document was written and DuBois is trying to focus on industrial education, as like Washington did in his speech. DuBois claims “to attempt to establish any sort of a system of common and industrial school training, without first providing for the higher training of the very best teachers, is simply throwing your money to the winds (3).” Whereas Washington believed in an industrial education, DuBois believed that African Americans needed a classical education. He seeks to promote, “intelligence, broad sympathy, knowledge of the world that was and is and of the relation of man to it” (33-4). DuBois, wants blacks to get a classical education so that they would be able to do something with their lives and reach their full potential. He believes they need to do this for their own self to be able to make a living. I feel like this is very important because I do not think the race of someone should affect the way they are treated in society. During this time, they were not always treated fairly, and most did not even get an education. DuBois just wanted what was best for
Booker T. Washington and W.E.B DuBois are two very powerful people who were very good at molding the social and political views of African Americans through their writings in the twentieth century. Washington clashed with other black leaders such as W.E.B DuBois. W.E.B DuBois said that “Washington’s views were born out of present reality.” Washington and DuBois had very similar goals but they both faced and handled the problems of African Americans in different ways. Booker T. Washington and W.E.B DuBois had one thing that they both wanted to do, and that was to accomplish getting education for all African Americans. They both had two very separate and different views on how to accomplish having African Americans educated. To get to this goal, the African American community was split into two because they would either support the views of Booker T. Washington which were that he believed in industrial and agricultural labor, or they supported the views of W.E.B DuBois which was a strategy to be put through higher education to then have first-class citizenship for the African-American race.
5) Issues: There were many issues in this case and they were: 1) whether or not the suggested plan would actually end segregation 2) if the courts are protected under the fourteenth amendment to take action to end the segregation in schools.
Over 100 years ago W.E.B DuBois and Booker T. Washington began a debate over strategies for black social and economic progress, which is still prevalent today. Booker T. Washington believed that the role of education for African Americans should be an industrial one, where as W.E.B DuBois wanted African Americans to become engaged in a Liberal Arts education.
This case to place in 1954 and helped to end the segregation laws that withheld black and white schools being integrated. Before I
Most African Americans have faced many injustices, but one court case that can be considered as a major win is Brown versus Board of Education (1965). The case was about how a girl named Linda Brown not being allowed to attend an all-white elementary school. The jurors debated on the fourteen amendment and on the term “separate but equal” (“Brown v. Board of Education”). After many discussions and debate later, court case decision not only gave justice to the little girl, but also to the case regarding Jim Crow like Plessy versus Ferguson that faced injustice of the “separate but equal” which in 1965, “the Supreme Court produced a unanimous decision to overturn Plessy vs. Ferguson” (“Separate Is Not Equal - Brown v. Board of Education”). The case of Brown versus the Board of education was one of the most significant cases because this case was the stepping stone to the justices of previous cases that were ruled against for the fourteen amendment for many minorities. This case shows that peoples’ view point are slowly changing even when discrimination is prevalent; this was not the first time minorities wanted justice for their kids to attend diverse
Throughout history there have been various influential court cases involving Education. These important cases and their outcomes act as milestones on the road to a successful education System in the United States. Topics such as race, religion and gender equality within schools have all been vigorously debated upon and have ultimately played major roles in shaping today 's education system. By examining civil rights and acting upon these rights many important educational court cases have allowed many students a greater chance for efficient and equal learning opportunities in the classroom.
Brown v. Board of Education case(1954), and Loving v. Virginia case(1967). The significance that all
Public schools across our nation, up until 1954 were all segregated schools, meaning that whites had their own campus and blacks had another campus. With the ruling decision of Brown vs. Board of education, it established that separate was not equal, and African Americans were being deprived of an equal opportunity at an education. Prior to Brown vs. Board of Education, there were five other cases that were heard by the Supreme Court. These other cases were: Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Briggs v. Elliot, Davis
An Analysis of the Shifting Results of Supreme Court cases Minersville School District v. Gobitis (1940) and West Virginia Board of Education v. Barnette (1943)
Constitutional issues: The question addressed to the Court involved the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. “Does segregation of children in public schools solely on the basis of race, even though the physical facilities and other 'tangible' factors may be equal, deprive the children of educational opportunities?” the Court was asked to determine whether the segregation of schools was constitutional.
The Supreme Court’s ruling did not take into account the majority opinion in Plessy versus Ferguson. Had it done so, the outcome would have been quite different. In the case of Plessy versus Ferguson, it was clear that there was some bias. Not only did it restore white supremacy but it violated the Fourteenth Amendment as well. This is because black facilities were undoubtedly unequal to those of the whites for that the white facilities were made with more quality, to say the least. Many whites were elated when the separate but equal facilities’ ruling was put into effect. For them, it was another moment to prove that the blacks were inferior. Though Kansas is not a southern state, members of the Supreme Court knew that many racists were going to be upset had the plaintiffs won. However, they did not let that hinder the outcome of the case. Because they knew what was right is right and what is wrong is wrong, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the plaintiffs. The opinion was that, “Today it is a principal instrument in awakening the child to cultural values, in preparing him for later professional training, and in helping him to adjust normally to his environment…” They go on to say, “Does segregation of children in public schools solely on the basis of race… deprive the children of the minority group of equal educational opportunities? We believe that it does.” They go on to explain that to separate others solely because of race places a sense of