Why did the desegregation of schools become a major problem in the USA in the 1950s

Authors Avatar

Challenging segregation

During 1865 slavery was abolished in the USA meaning black people were granted a life of freedom and equality in contrast to being sold as slaves. Another right they were given was the ability to work and get paid for their labour however as time past white people became envious of this new found freedom especially in the southern states. Ethnic tensions were high in the southern states. White people resisted integration and this became official in the Plessey vs. Ferguson case where the Supreme Court voted that they would live separately. Separate but equal the Supreme Court ruled.

As segregation continued blacks tried to challenge it. One of the first cases to be brought to light was the Lloyd Gaines Vs Missouri University. Gaines who disappeared in 1939 was the central figure in one of the most important cases in civil rights. During the year 1936 he applied for Missouri University to study law yet in April the university denied him admission due to his colour. In order to satisfy Gaines the University offered to pay his fees for an out of state education.

Join now!

This was the start of several more successful cases with regards to education.

The 1950s were filled with controversy over segregation and whether it should be abolished. In 1954 the public witnessed the Brown Vs Topeka Board of education case which had people rioting with a display of hatred. For Black people especially children school was a hard place. One girl who faced a large obstacle was 8 year old Linda Brown from Topeka. In order to reach her all “Black School” Linda had to ride the bus for 5 miles as no other schools accepted her due to ...

This is a preview of the whole essay