Changes

Although the Supreme Court handed down ''Brown'' in the early 50s, it is interesting to note that little actually occurred in the way of factual desegregation for over ten years, as a result of massive resistance by southern conservatives, seeking to preserve for as long as possible the Jim Crow-structure of the early south.  This raises interesting questions as to the role of the Supreme Court in bringing about actual social change.  No-one today will dispute the need for the ''Brown'' decision, and its importance, but many will query whether it changed that much, or if its use was rather in sending a definitive signal that the days of segregation and institutionalized racism were at a close.

Although the Supreme Court handed down ''Brown'' in the early 50s, it is interesting to note that little actually occurred in the way of factual desegregation for over ten years, as a result of massive resistance by southern conservatives, seeking to preserve for as long as possible the Jim Crow-structure of the early south.  This raises interesting questions as to the role of the Supreme Court in bringing about actual social change.  No-one today will dispute the need for the ''Brown'' decision, and its importance, but many will query whether it changed that much, or if its use was rather in sending a definitive signal that the days of segregation and institutionalized racism were at a close.

Until the article is expanded, please see

Until the article is expanded, please see

*[[Earl Warren]]

*[[Earl Warren]]

*[[Fourteenth Amendment]]

*[[Fourteenth Amendment]]

*[[Plessy v. Ferguson]], for the pre-''Brown'' consensus.

*[[Plessy v. Ferguson]], for the pre-''Brown'' consensus.