Honoring the promise of Brown v. Board

Seventy years ago, in its landmark decision Brown v. Board of Education, the Supreme Court proclaimed that education is a “right that must be made available to all on equal terms.” But today, we still struggle to fulfill the promise of racial equity in that decision. Public schools and many other elements of our life remain segregated and unequal, diminishing opportunities for millions of students. Instead of enacting policies and using their power to provide all students with the resources they need to learn and thrive, anti-public education politicians have set priorities and budgets that have sustained an unequal system, and students — especially Black and brown students — have suffered from their decisions. 

As we mark this moment, let’s be reminded the work is undone. NEA and its allies will continue to advocate for adequate and equitable school funding, so that all our students, of every race and every place, have the resources they need to learn without limits and realize their dreams. We will also work to elect pro-public education politicians in Election 2024 who are committed to equity for our students. We invite you to join us. The following resources provide context and action opportunities so that together we can achieve integration and equitable outcomes for all students.

Understanding Where We Are Now

The Brown v. Board of Education decision ended legal segregation in public schools overnight; it also ignited mass resistance that continues today through policies that drive segregation and racial inequities. Learn more about the work of educators, unions, and allies as they continue to help achieve integration and equitable outcomes for all students.

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Educating for Equity: Brown v. Board of Education 70 Years Later

On May 17, 2024, Color Of Change and the National Education Association commemorated the 70th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education. Watch interviews from esteemed intergenerational thought leaders including Rashad Robinson, president of Color Of Change; Becky Pringle, president of the National Education Association; Marley Dias, student activist, author, NEA ambassador and founder of #1000BlackGirlBooks; George “Conscious” Lee, educator, content creator and host of the “Black History, For Real” podcast; Alice O’Brien, general counsel of the National Education Association; and Erin Freeman, a public school educator based in Florida. Explore the critical intersections of race, education, and how the end of affirmative action is impacting education. Learn strategies for building power in your community to continue advocating for the protection of public education for our children and the inclusion of Black history in our classrooms. 
 

NEA Joins National Black Justice Coalition’s (NBJC) Podcast Series: “Teach the Babies”

The National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) podcast series: “Teach the Babies” launched on the anniversary of Brown on May 17, hosted by Dr. David J. Johns, NBJC’s CEO and Executive Director and former Executive Director of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans under President Barack Obama.

Coinciding with the 70th anniversary of Brown v. Board, which continues to shape understandings of and facilitate or deny access to citizenship, democracy, and equity, each episode of “Teach the Babies” will feature conversations with brilliant change makers from diverse sectors, each shaping education and democracy in profoundly consequential ways. The podcast will explore the lessons learned from the Brown decision and ensuing actions, and reflect upon how far the country has come and the work that remains.

Subscribe to the Podcast via Apple and Spotify, and check out the June 4th episode, "Navigating the Color Line" featuring NEA President Becky Pringle.

Resources

These resources from our partners provide more background information and materials for supplementing classroom curricula.

Zinn Education Project—find recommended K-12 books, films, articles, and "This Day in History" synopses in this comprehensive list of Brown v. Board resources.

National Museum of African American History & Culture—This Smithsonian museum has launched it's own online initative exhibit to mark the 70th anniversary. Find background reading and oral history recordings in the feature sections on:

• The Struggle Against Segregated Education 
• Two Landmark Decisions in the Fight for Equality and Justice

NAACP Legal Defense Fund—In honor of the 70th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education on May 17 2024, LDF is hosting a series of events to reflect on the legacy of Brown and the future of education equity. Read more about the landmark case and what came next at LDF's chronicle of the history of Brown, key players, and how Brown shaped our nation.

In April 2024, The Legal Defense Fund, Brown’s Promise, and Columbia Law School held a convening for the 70th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education. Watch the conversation with students, advocates, educators, organizers, and leaders committed to the work of fulfilling Brown's promise of equity and equality.

Take Action

Demand the Freedom to Learn

Great public schools are places where students feel safe, have a sense of belonging, and can receive an education that prepares them for the real world. Great public schools are places where parents and educators work together so each student has the support and opportunity they deserve to thrive and pursue their dreams. That is why we ask you to join the NEA as we demand an inclusive, culturally responsive public education system in which every student and educator is treated with dignity and respect, no exceptions, through our Demand the Freedom to Learn Pledge.

Take the pledge

Make Your Plan to Vote – Elect Pro-Public Education Candidates 

Following the decision of Brown v. Board of Education, vouchers were created and used by school districts to enable white students to attend private schools, which could (and still can) limit admission based on race. As a result, the schools that served those white students were closed, and schools that served Black students remained chronically underfunded— rooted inherently in segregation, racism, and enforced patterns of discrimination.

NEA continues to fight for adequate and equitable school funding, so that all students, of every race and every place, have the funding they need to learn without limits. If we’re serious about doing what’s right for every child’s future, let’s do what works: Support public schools by electing pro-public education candidates in Election 2024.

Make a plan to vote!