An Investigation into Civil Rights

There continued to be unrest in both the north and south where whites disagreed with legislation. Bombings and shootings were a common threat to blacks seeking better education. For instance, a bus carrying black pupils to a newly integrated school in Lamar, South Carolina, was attacked by a white angry mob, overturned, and destroyed. This appalled the nation and terrified the students, who fortunately escaped with no injury. “Despite all the violence to black Americans the great court decisions finally gave blacks the opportunity and encouragement to climb from the depths of Jim Crowism.”

C. Evaluation of sources

        The Burden of Brown: Thirty Years of School Desegregation, compiled by

Raymond Walters is an in depth description of the course of events and the educational results of five school districts whose judicial proceeding was consolidated for the ruling of desegregation. The Burden of Brown… was written with the purpose to give evidence that the account of what actually happened in communities where desegregation began, differs sharply from the idea held by the general public that a smooth transition from segregation to integration had occurred. The information in the book is valuable because it provides the public with the in depth, harsh reality of what occurred within five counties where resistance to desegregation was massive. The book exposes the reader to the opinions of leaders and society within the counties and allows the reader to make his or her own opinion based off of the facts presented. The limitations in the book rely on the fact that Wolters’ study concerns only five school districts, other reactions occurred around the nation. Wolters’ opinion also played a major role in his research; he initially felt that desegregation was not as simple historian Richard Kluger’s claimed. Thus, Wolters focused on researching the negative aspect of events that transpired since Brown, without much reservation for positive aspects of the ruling or reactions in other communities throughout the nation.

Similar to The Burden of Brown; Thirty Years of School Desegregation, Leonard Stevens’ book EQUAL! : The Case of Integration vs. Jim Crow also recollects the struggle for racial equality and provides evidence as to how court decisions were a matter of consequence to people of all races. EQUAL! was published in 1976 whereas The Burden of Brown was published in 1984. In comparison to Stevens, Wolters had more evidence to support his theory that desegregation was ultimately a failure, in terms of how the lives of people were affected, whereas Stevens’ book was published at an earlier date and therefore he had less field based evidence to support his information. However, the release of Stevens’ book had more of an impact on society since it was published in the 1970’s when racial tensions were stronger than in the in the 1980’s when Wolters’ book was published. EQUAL! was a valuable book in that it brought public awareness to the consequences of the Brown case during a still crucial reconstruction period. The book EQUAL! is limited in that in comparison to The Burden of Brown, the book does not have as much evidence to support that integration was indeed a harsh transition, because it was published at an earlier time. However, since both books, EQUAL! and The Burden of Brown, are independent of each other, historians can compare both books for accuracy and biases in terms of their relevance concerning the sentiment of American society.

  D. Analysis

Although the 13th amendment freed all slaves, the document did nothing to ensure or guarantee that minorities and blacks would be able to enjoy the rights and privileges of American citizenship. When the Civil War ended in 1865, the adoption of the Thirteenth Amendment to the constitution soon followed. In addition, to the previous amendment, the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments were also passed to grant former slaves full citizenship and civil rights, and Congress also passed the Civil Rights Acts between 1868 and 1875. The laws were written guarantees in accordance with the constitution however, they were not enforced against local opposition. 

As was during the late nineteenth century, the blacks suffered just as much during the twentieth century. After the Brown v. Board of Education ruling was passed life was made even more difficult for blacks. The white people of Little Rock, Arkansas detested integration and displayed their disgust by the constant rioting, boycotting, and vulgar actions toward the black students. These actions wee detrimental on the strong hearts of black students. Even though blacks continued to fight for equal opportunities, it was often very difficult with factions of whites constantly fighting against their cause. The courage, yet breakdown of blacks can be seen from the fact that only four of the Little Rock Nine, returned to school at Little Rock High School because of threats on their life, home, and family. Even leaders expressed their negative sentiment for desegregation publicly. Governor Faubus, Talmadge, and Byrnes each verbally expressed their unwillingness to comply with the ruling. If leaders, who are supposed to be men of justice and fair will, were in disgust with desegregation, how was society supposed to embrace it?

The lives of blacks were constantly threatened as in the case in Clarendon County. Individuals who petitioned for equal facilities were being threatened and attacked. Constant harassment, rioting, and unemployment made life hard for blacks. Blacks who wanted a good life had no choice but to leave the county or stay and continue being persecuted. Reverend Mr. DeLaine was forced to leave his home because of threats and drive by shootings; he either had the decision to stay and resist attacks or leave and give in to white supremacist will. Even whites who supported black petitioners were persecuted. Judge J. Waties Waring supported black petitioners, but was forced to leave the county because his position and decisions made life for his family unbearable. The bus incident in Lamar, South Carolina, was an intense display of aversion from whites concerning desegregation. The black students were utterly terrified and were lucky to leave with their lives. Such incidents aroused fear in blacks, but did not cause them to give up, the sit- in movements during the civil rights movement supports the fact that blacks stayed strong. Whites were so utterly disgusted with the ruling and high spirits of blacks that if blacks refused to leave then whites chose to leave. Racial tensions in urban areas in the north prompted white families to leave inner cities and take up residence in suburbs. This movement known as “white flight” was an extreme display of how much whites refused to attempt to live and be taught equally with blacks. Education suffered grievously because of racial tensions and little cooperation among the races. Academic standards and performance declined, and behavioral problems amongst students became mundane. Racial tensions in schools and neighborhoods escalated tremendously. From the evidence provided, it is sufficient to state that desegregation initially caused unrest and division between the races. The majority of society was unwilling to comply with desegregation and thus resorted to persecute blacks and or move to evade integration with blacks.  

E. Conclusion

Since 1896, in the ruling of Plessy v. Ferguson it was ruled that separate but equal was acceptable. This concept became ingrained into individuals, “it seeped deeper and deeper into the sinews and soul of American society.”  Any individual who thought this decree might be altered was considered a visionary. When the decree was in fact changed, the majority of society was appalled. People fought the decree to the height of their ability in any way they could. Initially, the ruling in Brown created division in society by causing whites to persecute blacks. Whites felt that the “separate but equal” clause was sufficient for society’s law and refused to accept the new ruling. Despite the overall turmoil caused by the Brown ruling, it was the foundation for a stronger, unified nation, which is evident in today’s society. America is the land of opportunities, a nation established by people of different languages, races, and religions and one of which finds unity in the principles of a sovereign constitution. “The Brown case was a landmark that separated Jim Crow America from modern America.”