The Role Of Community In Brown Vs. Topeka's Board Of Education

How do individuals and communities play a role in establishing educational equality? Individuals and communities play an important role in establishing educational equality through many different ways. Two ways that individuals have played a role in establishing educational equality is through going to the courts and going on strikes to protest. Without the individual action to promote these activities, students of diverse races and ethnicities would have never achieved the equality they have today in the educational systems. Brown vs. Topeka’s Board of Education became the foundation for African American’s being allowed to desegregate white schools. The NAACP had 13 different families try and enroll black children into all white schools. All of them were denied. Linda Brown was one of the students denied entry to Topeka School based on her race. This was taken to court and it was ruled that separate was unequal! Because of these individuals’ actions, strides for equality were made. Although this was not enforced until later, this was still an important act of individuals.
One student not attending school does not seem like it could make much difference. However, when thousands of students are not attending, the message may be heard. In Crystal City, Texas in 1968 many students went on strike to demand bilingual education, human treatment from white teachers, and curriculum reform of the history and culture. In the fall of 1969 there were 30 thousand African American and Latinos on strike. They wanted more African American and Latino administration, teachers, and counselors. They also wanted more academic courses related to their culture. Eventually, by calling attention to this inequality, school boards were able to be reformed and action was able to be taken. Through these actions, individuals and communities are able to make a difference in educational