Commemorating a 70-Year Legacy of Equity in Education: Brown v. Board of Education
By Color Of Change staff
It has been 70 years since the U.S. Supreme Court issued its landmark decision in the Brown v. Board of Education case, a ruling that declared the doctrine of “separate but equal” unconstitutional in public education.
This pivotal moment in history marked a significant step towards dismantling racial segregation in schools, asserting that racially separate educational facilities are inherently unequal.
The case, brought by the NAACP to challenge the entrenched policies and practices of largely Southern segregationists, has profoundly impacted the lives of schoolchildren across this nation for generations — even today.
To commemorate this milestone anniversary, Color Of Change, in partnership with the National Education Association, produced a short video titled, “Educating for Equity: Brown v Board of Education 70 Years Later.”
The video premiered on May 17 — the actual anniversary of the decision — on COC’s YouTube and Facebook channels, where it’s available now to watch as part of COC’s Black History Now Live Series.
It features a range of intergenerational thought leaders and advocates reflecting on the groundbreaking case and addressing the ongoing challenges facing the public education system today, including:
- Rashad Robinson, president of Color Of Change
- Rebecca S. “Becky” Pringle, president of the National Education Association
- Marley Dias, student activist, author, NEA ambassador and founder of #1000BlackGirlBooks
- George “Conscious” Lee, educator, content creator and host of the “Black History, For Real” podcast
- Alice O’Brien, general counsel of the National Education Association
- Erin Freeman, a public school educator based in Florida.
Their thoughts serve as a timely reminder of the progress achieved since the Brown decision and highlight the pressing need to continue advocating for equitable education for Black and Brown students.
Recent events are a sobering reminder of the ongoing struggle for educational equity, as far-right forces actively seek to undermine the progress made since Brown v. Board of Education. Notably, in the U.S. Supreme Court decision handed down May 23 in a South Carolina racial gerrymandering case, Justice Clarence Thomas lays the legal groundwork to challenge the Brown decision. Neo-segregationists such as Ed Blum and Stephen Miller are eager to take him up on that and are actively working to bring cases before the court that would give them the opportunity to once again enshrine racial segregation in public schools.
Despite the challenges, COC has remained steadfast in its mission to protect and advance Black history and educational equity. Through ongoing partnerships with organizations like the National Education Association, COC has demonstrated a commitment to defending Black history and education and trained more than 1,100 local leaders across the country in the last seven months.
In COC’s latest collaboration with the NEA, “Educating for Equity: Brown v Board of Education 70 Years Later” aims to educate, inspire and motivate viewers to protect the gains made since then. By highlighting the voices of educators, activists and leaders, the video underscores the importance of collective action in safeguarding the legacy of the Brown decision. Working together, we can build power to make positive changes in our education system that our communities want and our children deserve.