African American Students During the Civil War (Essay Example)

Imagine having to walk seven blocks and take a mile-long bus ride to school every day at the age of nine. This was the reality for African American children during the civil war. Let's take the specific case of Linda Brown. Linda Brown was a 3rd-grade Afro-American student based in Kansas. Linda was made to attend a black school miles away from her house as she was denied acceptance into a white school in her neighborhood.  After the rejection, her father, Oliver Brown,  decided to take action and teamed up with 12 other black families to file a case against the Topeka board of education with the help of the national association for the advancement of colored people or the NAACP. They ultimately won with the claim that separate can never truly be equal. The Brown vs Board of education case has helped society as it created equal opportunities for people of all races, was a foundation that helped demolish segregation in all public facilities and created a major shift of perspective on the basis of racism during the civil war. 

The significance of the Brown vs Board of Education case can not fully be comprehended unless the situational context in which the case took place, regarding the time period and environment in which Linda was raised is fully understood.  In 1868 the United States constitution adopted the equal protection clause of the 14th amendment that claimed that  “no state shall… deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws” (Bill of rights institute). Despite this, in 1898, the case of Plessy vs Ferguson arose where official segregation in America was approved of under the terms of separate but equal; This meant that all public facilities including schools have permission to be segregated so long as they are equal in quantity and quality. After almost half a decade of the case being a norm in America, Thurgood Marshall, the lawyer for the Brown vs Board of Education case spoke out about how separation and equality were on two different ends of a spectrum, and the segregation set in public facilities directly violated the 14th amendment. 

The Brown vs Board of Education case benefited society by guaranteeing equal opportunities to people of color when compared to those of their white counterparts. When it was his turn to speak up to the court, Chief justice Warren argued against the concept of Plessy vs Furgson claiming that “even if physical factors of segregated schools are equal, separating children from others based on race cases feeling of inferiority, which may be permanent” (State Bar of Georgia).  This statement led to the overturning of the law, and by doing this, schools were no longer legally allowed to be segregated. This helped by guaranteeing equal opportunities for children of color as they were permitted access to the same education as their white peers. By desegregating schools, equality was not only increased in education but also in job opportunities between different races. Prior to the desegregation of schools, many studies show that black schools were those of poorer quality. Because of this African Americans usually found it more difficult to find jobs as they did not have the same skill level as their white counterparts.  The Brown vs Board of Education case allowed all children to get the same level of education and therefore ensured that  “black children throughout the nation would have educations that would gain them entry to skilled jobs and colleges on an equal basis with whites” (The Washington Post). By ensuring equal opportunities in education and in turn equal opportunities in the future, the Brown vs Board of Education not only changed millions of lives but was a big step towards equality for people of all races, young or old. 

Linda Brown's court case helped society as it helped set a basis for segregation in all public facilities. Initially there was no plan of action given by the supreme court to desegregate schools, however they eventually “asked attorney generals of all states with segregated schools to submit plans for desegregation” (Quimbee). While it took a while for some states to deal with the task, it was eventually done and all schools across America were open to all children. This movement was a huge turning point in the civil rights movement as it not only overturned the long-standing Plessy vs Ferguson case but also aided in influencing the desegregation of other public facilities across America including hotels, theaters, buses, and other such places.  Sources claimed that the court case “set the legal precedent that would be used to overturn laws enforcing segregation in other public facilities.” (history.com). The outcome of the Brown vs Board of Education case court went far beyond desegregating schools and instead acted as a  basis in desegregating all of America, aiding in the unity of all facilities across the country. 

The momentous case of Brown vs the Board of Education had not only physically but mentally shifted people's point of view regarding the concept of racism during the civil war period. Before the case, similar to other public facilities, schools were segregated with the understanding that since the facilities were as good for both the black and white students, the system overall was equal. Chief justice Earl Warren countered this ideology claiming that “We concluded that, in the field of public education, the doctrine of ‘separate but equal' has no place. Separate educational facilities are inherently unequal.” (Quimbee). This statement was one of the many in the supreme court ruling in favor of the browns against the board of education. Their ruling overall led to the understanding across America claiming that there was no place for the Plessy vs Ferguson case as it was a direct infraction of the 14th amendment. As this concept became accepted across the country, more and more facilities were seen desegregating with the understanding that segregation has no place in equality. The court case did more than physically impact the United States, but it also shifted people's mindsets on racism as a concept. From the average citizen to a  member of the United State supreme Court, there was a new sense of understanding that equality goes beyond physical factors and physical equality.

There is no doubt that the court case of the Browns vs Board of Education served as a major milestone in racial equality at the time of the civil war era.  The United States, a place that desperately required change regarding the rights of its citizens benefited astronomically from the case. Not only did the case create equal opportunities for people of color, but also helped in overall segregation across America both physically and mentally. To date, almost 70 years after the Brown vs Board of Education took place, its effect has left a mark on the world and has not only changed countless lives but has proved that even minorities who are seen as powerless, similar to the Browns, can actually make such a powerful impact on the world with nothing other than their voice and a little determination.