Statement of Rep. Cleaver on the 51st Anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education Decision

Statement of Rep. Cleaver on the 51st Anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education Decision
CLEAVER: "WE LIVE IN A MORE JUST SOCIETY BECAUSE OF BROWN v. BOARD OF EDUCATION"

May 17, 2005

(Washington, DC)-"Today, we mark the 51st anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's Brown v. Board of Education decision. This monumental decision closed the book on a dark chapter in our nation's education system - segregation in schools. It was the Court's official notice that segregation was wrong and in order to live up to our Constitution, "separate but equal" had to end.

"The Brown v. Board of Education decision had a profound effect on our country. It prompted schools from coast to coast to open their doors to children of all races. It also highlighted the fact that there remained a long road to a truly equal America, even though the doctrine of "separate but equal" was legally abolished, prompting many more citizens to join the civil rights movement.

"Even today, there is still much to do to ensure all of our children have an equal opportunity to receive a quality education. We must work to ensure that children of all races and diverse backgrounds study their lessons side-by-side, have the opportunity to attend college in the same diverse settings, to buy homes in integrated communities and to attain jobs in workplaces that truly reflect a diverse America.

"America is a better and more just country because of the Brown v. Board of Education decision. But let us not assume that all is well. In the spirit of Linda Brown who stood up against an immoral system, we can be better still by striving to provide all children with the same educational opportunities. Then, they will know what it truly means to live in a diverse society, rooted in a Constitution where all people are equal and every American has the opportunity to realize his or her dreams."

http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/mo05_cleaver/PR17may05.html