Brown v Board of Education Reflection

The Brown v Board of Education Mock Trial brought forth by my fellow students was very well put together with many factual and ethical points that opened my eyes to how the two sides in this argument tried to prove their points during the trial in 1954. To give a little bit of background that I learned, the case was known as a landmark decision with the two sides debating the segregation of black and white schools. The brown side argued that segregation by law implied that African Americans were inherently inferior to whites. The Board of Education argued that the separate schools for blacks were equal in every way, and were in complete compliance with the Plessy standard. The trial was run from the consolidation of 4 similar cases together, 4 public government-run school systems. These cases established the separate, but equal doctrine. They were brought under the 14th Amendment, also the equal protection clause.

The group that won me over in this mock trial was the Brown side due to the fact that they had more factual evidence and examples from the Bill of Rights, Bible, Constitution, and an individual’s morals. There were many good points that I found to be intriguing including… 

• The Constitution is color blind, doesn’t make a distinction between men and women, class, and most importantly race.

• There are a set of laws that discriminate against black people, but no laws that discriminate against white, something is wrong with that!

• African American children are still young. This is happening to a child by no fault to his/her own decision-making. (The way you were born). It creates an unfair advantage for white students. 

• “The golden rule” in the 14th Amendment doesn’t lift any exception like African Americans.

• We can look at passages of the Declaration of Independence and the bible of how “all men are created equal.” 

• President Truman (nonjudicial precedent action) integrated the military. Jackie Robinson was the first African American to play baseball. These were events that were happening within the era, but still segregation in schools!? 

• If there is a mutual decision to become equal it will help benefit the economy.

Although the Brown team had some very strong points with the Constitution and individual morals, the board of education made some strong points as well, however not as many as the Brown side in my opinion. Here are some of the points that I found to be quite solid… 

• “If it ain’t broke don’t fix it” notion. We don’t know what would happen. It could lead to a riot. 

• History repeats itself. They should remain separate, but equal to keep communities safe.

• Black children were already at a disadvantage in learning the skills of white people in school because of their ancestor’s IQ.

• They’re gonna take our jobs if they come to our schools! 

• Ruin the student-teacher ratio.