1954-1968 DesegregationDesegregation 

The desegregation of the U.S. Army was a major milestone in American civil rights history. 

Background

• Before 1948, the U.S. military was segregated by race.

• African American soldiers often served in separate units, were limited to support roles, and faced discrimination.

• During World War II, Black soldiers proved their skills in combat (e.g., the Tuskegee Airmen), raising awareness of the injustice.

Key Event: Executive Order 9981

• Date: July 26, 1948

• Issued by: President Harry S. Truman

• Purpose: To desegregate the U.S. armed forces and ensure equal treatment and opportunity for all soldiers, regardless of race, color, religion, or national origin.
  
  

Quote from the order:
"There shall be equality of treatment and opportunity for all persons in the armed services without regard to race, color, religion or national origin."

Implementation

• The Army, Navy, and Air Force began integrating gradually after 1948.

• Full integration took years, with resistance in some units and bases.

• By the Korean War (1950–1953), integrated units were more common, and Black soldiers served alongside white soldiers in combat roles.

Significance

• Marked the first major civil rights action by the federal government after WWII. Set a precedent for civil rights reforms in American society.
  Helped challenge racism and segregation in other institutions.

Schools

Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka was a landmark Supreme Court case decided on May 17, 1954. The ruling declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional, marking a significant turning point in the American Civil Rights Movement.

Background:

The case was a consolidation of several lawsuits from across the United States, with the lead case filed in Topeka, Kansas, by Oliver Brown, a black father whose daughter, Linda, was denied admission to a nearby white elementary school and forced to attend a distant black school. Brown, along with other parents, sued the Topeka Board of Education, arguing that the racial segregation of schools violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.

At the time, the legal precedent for segregation was the 1896 Supreme Court decision in Plessy v. Ferguson, which had established the doctrine of "separate but equal." This meant that racial segregation was permissible as long as the separate facilities were considered equal, though in practice, black facilities were often inferior.

The Supreme Court's Decision:

The case was argued before the Supreme Court by Thurgood Marshall, who would later become the first African American justice on the Supreme Court. Marshall and his legal team, representing the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People), argued that segregated schools were inherently unequal and that segregation caused psychological harm to black children.

On May 17, 1954, in a unanimous 9-0 decision, the Court ruled in favor of Brown. Chief Justice Earl Warren, who wrote the opinion of the Court, famously stated:

• "In the field of public education, the doctrine of 'separate but equal' has no place. Separate educational facilities are inherently unequal."

Impact:

The Brown v. Board of Education decision effectively overturned the Plessy v. Ferguson ruling and declared that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. It laid the foundation for broader efforts to desegregate American society and catalyzed the Civil Rights Movement.

However, the ruling did not lead to immediate desegregation. Many Southern states resisted the decision, leading to legal battles, protests, and incidents like the integration of Little Rock Central High School in 1957, where federal troops had to be deployed to enforce desegregation.

The Brown decision remains one of the most significant Supreme Court rulings in U.S. history, playing a crucial role in the eventual dismantling of legalized racial segregation in the United States.

Using the information below answer the following questions. 

8. What was the impact of the events, Brown vs the School Board and Little Rock Nine? 

9. What does this reveal about the strategies being used by the Civil Rights Movement to challenge formal and informal obstacles to change? 

10. What obstacles remained for desegregation of schools despite these events? 

11. Research: Were there other events that happened after this time showing tension regarding integrating schools? 

The impact of the Little Rock Nine was profound, both immediately and in the long-term, on the Civil Rights Movement and American society as a whole. Here are several key ways in which their actions and the events surrounding their integration of Central High School left a lasting mark:

1. Challenge to Segregation

• Test of Brown v. Board of Education: The Little Rock Nine's attempt to attend Central High School was one of the first major tests of the 1954 Supreme Court decision, which declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional. Their bravery underscored the federal mandate that "separate but equal" was no longer acceptable in American public education.

• Defiance of State Resistance: Their struggle illustrated the difficulties in enforcing desegregation laws in the face of state resistance. Governor Orval Faubus’s use of the National Guard to block the students exposed the ongoing hostility toward integration in the Southern states.

2. Federal Government Intervention

• Executive Power in Civil Rights: President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s decision to send federal troops to escort the students marked a turning point in the use of federal power to enforce civil rights. This intervention demonstrated that the federal government would not tolerate state defiance of Supreme Court rulings.

• A Message of National Significance: By intervening, Eisenhower made it clear that segregation was not merely a local issue but a national concern, pushing civil rights further into the national spotlight.

3. Inspiration for the Civil Rights Movement

• Symbol of Courage and Resistance: The Little Rock Nine became powerful symbols of resilience and determination in the face of hate and violence. Their bravery inspired many others in the growing Civil Rights Movement to continue pushing for equality and justice.

• Paving the Way for Future Activism: Their integration of Central High School set the stage for other significant civil rights actions, including the Freedom Rides, the Greensboro sit-ins, and further school desegregation efforts.

4. Media Coverage and Public Awareness

• Exposing Racial Injustice: The widespread media coverage of the events in Little Rock brought the harsh realities of racism in America into homes across the country. Images of Elizabeth Eckford being harassed by an angry mob, escorted by federal troops, highlighted the ugliness of racial prejudice and increased public support for civil rights legislation.

• Global Perception: The crisis also drew international attention, revealing to the world the contradictions between America’s democratic ideals and the reality of racial inequality, further pressuring the U.S. to act on civil rights issues.

5. Educational and Social Impact

• Furthering School Integration: The actions of the Little Rock Nine were a catalyst for continued efforts to integrate schools, both in the South and across nationwide. Though progress was slow and often met with resistance, their experience demonstrated the need for persistent activism and legal enforcement of desegregation.

• Role Models for Youth: Their courage, particularly in an educational context, underscored the importance of access to quality education for all children, regardless of race. They became role models for future generations advocating for equal opportunities in education.

6. Long-Term Legal and Political Outcomes

• Civil Rights Legislation: The Little Rock crisis helped build momentum for future civil rights laws, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which aimed to dismantle systemic racism in both education and society as a whole.

• Ongoing Struggle for Equality: While the events in Little Rock represented a major step forward, it also highlighted the long and difficult road ahead for civil rights, as many areas of American life, including housing and employment, remained segregated for years to come.

The Little Rock Nine's courage and determination not only helped desegregate one school, but their stand also helped galvanize the movement toward greater racial equality in the U.S., serving as a turning point in the broader fight for civil rights.

12. Where else was segregation an issue? Research housing.