Author: Haylee Orlowski
Interviewer: Daniel Hoge
The 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision was a Supreme Court ruling that changed American society forever. In the days following the Court’s decision, newspapers and public officials across the country commented on what impact Brown would have on the nation. In preliminary years that followed, reactions to the decision varied by state and social groups. Advocates for segregation existed amongst both racial groups, as did strong advocates for immediate integration. The spectrum of opinions on how to best implement Brown even included advocates for gradual integration. These varying groups all faced obstacles and frustrations with the Supreme Court’s ruling, which led to events such as legally sanctioned discrimination, school foreclosures, and even violence.