CIVIL RIGHTS
Why Brown v. Board of Education is on Thin Ice With This Supreme Court
If the decision happened today, it wouldn't be unanimous.
Civil rights established by previous generations are on shaky ground as Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas openly shared his disapproval of Brown v. Board of Education. In a 1954 unanimous decision, justices declared segregated schools unconstitutional, setting a powerful precedent that challenged the racial hierarchy after nearly a century of "separate but equal" under Plessy v. Ferguson. However, as a court decision rather than legislation, Brown v. Board of Education relies on the court's interpretation, leaving its future uncertain.
The recent overturning of Roe v. Wade, which stripped women of reproductive rights, raises concerns about the potential of dismantling other civil rights precedents. If nearly fifty years of so-called settled law can be rescinded, what does this mean for the security of Brown v. Board of Education? Two years ago, I wrote an article in Oprah Daily suggesting that the Roe v. Wade reversal could set back school desegregation. After the Supreme Court dismissed protections for women's reproductive rights, Senator John Cornyn's statement, "Now do Plessy vs. Ferguson/Bron vs. Board of Education," signaled his desire to see these…
