

Civil Rights: Brown v Board of Education of Topeka
Jul 13, 2021
Chief Judge Roger Gregory, a notable legal expert and advocate for civil rights, sheds light on the pivotal Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka case. He discusses the historical context leading to this landmark ruling, emphasizing its challenge to the Plessy v. Ferguson decision. Gregory highlights Thurgood Marshall's strategic legal battles and the psychological ramifications of segregation on students. The conversation also tackles the ongoing complexities of desegregation and the gap between legal victories and the reality of inequality today.
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Gradual Segregation
- Segregation in the US didn't happen instantly after Plessy v. Ferguson.
- Its implementation was gradual, evolving from informal practices to formalized laws over several decades, solidifying by the 1920s.
De Jure vs. De Facto Segregation
- De jure segregation, mandated by law, was prevalent in the South.
- De facto segregation, arising from custom and practice, like redlining, was common in the North.
NAACP's Early Strategy
- The NAACP, led by Charles Hamilton Houston, initiated the legal fight against segregation in the 1930s.
- Their initial strategy focused on the "equal" aspect of "separate but equal," targeting instances of unequal facilities.