Brown at 70: Commitment or Commemoration

Abstract

The 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision is iconic in American jurisprudence. It is taught in public schools as a part of our history and US Government courses. Legal professionals almost universally regard it as a rightly decided ruling that showcases the meaning of the 14^th Amendment. However, the decision has never been fully implemented and was regularly met with active resistance. This essay addresses some of the unfulfilled promises of Brown more than a half century later that include failure to consider the quality of Black schools, preserving the job security of Black teachers and administrators, the use of Brown to galvanize White resentment, and Brown is used as a tool against Black educational aspirations. The essay concludes with a look toward Black pedagogical practices that worked to empower Black students despite the limitations of the law and a call to reconsider what Brown can actually mean in contemporary America.