The Bricks before Brown: The Chinese American, Native American, and Mexican Americans' Struggle for Educational Equality

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1954 that state laws establishing racial segregation are unconstitutional, known as Brown v. Board of Education. Marisela Martinez-Cola writes about the many important cases that led to the culmination of Brown, revealing the significance of Chinese American, Native American, and Mexican American segregation cases. Comparing and discussing the meaning of these other court cases strengthens the standing of Brown while revealing the twists and turns inherent in the struggle for equality.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 226 pages
Publication date: 01 August 2022
Publisher: University of Georgia Press

In a landmark decision in 1954, the United States Supreme Court declared that state laws establishing racial segregation were unconstitutional, recognizing the inherent inequality of separate treatment. This seminal case, known as Brown v. Board of Education, emerged as a monumental victory in the civil rights movement. Marisela Martinez-Cola delves into the intricate legal battles that paved the way for this historic ruling. She reveals that the road to Brown was lined with at least one hundred other families who courageously challenged segregated schooling in state and federal courts across the country, eleven of which involved Chinese American, Native American, and Mexican American plaintiffs. By shedding light on the significance of these segregation cases, Martinez-Cola offers a valuable opportunity for a more diverse America to fully engage with the comprehensive narrative of the civil rights movement. To illustrate the evolution of these cases, she focuses on three notable court cases from California, seamlessly integrating them into the broader context of the long civil rights struggle. By doing so, she expands our understanding of the scope of that movement, encompassing racial, gender, and class dimensions. Comparing and discussing the implications of the other court cases that led to the Brown decision further strengthens the standing of Brown, while also unveiling the intricate twists and turns inherent in the ongoing struggle for equality.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780820362038