In 1990, as a member of the Brown Foundation for Educational Excellence was driving by, they noticed a large “For Auction” sign on the Monroe School building. For many years, Monroe had been one of four segregated grade schools in Topeka, where black schoolchildren were assigned by the board of education. Since its closure in 1975, the building had gone through multiple transformations, serving as a warehouse, a church meeting place, a clothing-distribution center, and even a dentist’s office. Its future was uncertain.
However, the Brown Foundation had a mission to preserve this historic site, both locally and nationally. After years of effort, the Monroe School would soon be dedicated as a museum, showcasing the story of the Brown v. Board of Education case and the struggles for desegregation and civil rights.
“The story of the Brown case is intricate, yet incredibly captivating,” said Stephen E. Adams, the superintendent of the national historic site at the Monroe School. He led a preview tour of the museum last month, emphasizing the importance of understanding the significance and history of the case. The Monroe School held a particular significance as Linda Brown, the daughter of Oliver L. Brown, a local railroad worker and minister, was enrolled there when her father sought to enroll her in a whites-only school closer to home. This led to the lawsuit organized by the NAACP, challenging segregated schools in Topeka.
Next month will mark the 50th anniversary of the Supreme Court declaring segregation in public education unconstitutional. To commemorate this milestone, the renovated Monroe School will be dedicated on May 17. U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige is expected to attend, and there are hints that President Bush may also be present. Throughout the year, various events have taken place to honor this historic case, including conferences, exhibits, and writing contests for children.
The anniversary will likely spark renewed interest in the case and the history of the U.S. civil rights movement. Organizers hope that young people, in particular, will be curious to learn more about the story of the Brown v. Board of Education case. Daniel Holt, a member of the federal Brown v. Board of Education 50th Anniversary Commission, believes that attention towards the case will increase after May 17.
Last month, the commission had the opportunity to preview the Brown museum. Education Week was also present as museum staff showcased the renovated Monroe School and its exhibits, which were almost complete. Upon entering the building, visitors will be given a choice to pass through entryways marked “white” or “colored.” The school’s auditorium features state-of-the-art video displays that narrate the history of segregated schools.
Overall, the dedication of the Monroe School as a museum aims to educate and inspire visitors about the importance of the Brown v. Board of Education case and the ongoing fight for equal rights.
“Wow, it’s incredibly well-executed,” Mr. Wilkins remarked, his voice filled with awe. “For someone like me who grew up in a segregated environment, this museum is a powerful reminder of my childhood experiences.”
However, the museum’s broader approach seemed to unsettle another member of the Brown commission. Joseph A. De Laine Jr., the son of the minister who initiated the desegregation case in South Carolina, Briggs v. Elliott, expressed his concerns to Mr. Adams during the tour. He worried that students might leave the museum without gaining a comprehensive understanding of the other desegregation cases.
“While I commend their efforts,” Mr. De Laine said as he stood outside the school, “I believe it places too much emphasis on the civil rights era of the 1960s and neglects the significance of the Brown era in the 1950s.”
In fact, the Brown commission, composed of members appointed by President Bush, Secretary Paige, U.S. Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist, and others, aimed to shed light on all five desegregation cases decided by the Supreme Court in 1954. Over the past 18 months, the commission has held meetings at sites associated with the four state cases that comprised Brown, as well as the District of Columbia case, which led to the separate opinion known as Bolling v. Sharpe.
When Mr. De Laine expressed his concerns, Mr. Adams assured him that once all the exhibits are in place, visitors will have a comprehensive understanding of the history behind all five cases. “We never intended for this to solely focus on Topeka,” Mr. Adams clarified later. “This museum is not just about one little girl.”
‘Having a Negative Impact’
One interactive exhibit informs visitors about the truths and myths surrounding the Brown case. One statement presented is: “Oliver Brown single-handedly sued the Topeka School Board on behalf of his daughter.” When visitors seek the answer, they learn: “No, Oliver Brown was among a group of 13 parents who filed a class action lawsuit” challenging segregation in schools.
According to several historical accounts, including the renowned 1975 book “Simple Justice” by Richard Kluger, Mr. Brown’s name appeared first among the plaintiffs in the Topeka lawsuit because he was the only male among the parents. The lawsuit aimed to challenge the policy of racial segregation in Topeka’s 22 K-6 grade schools, where four were reserved for black children and 18 for white children. It is important to note that this segregation policy, permitted by Kansas law but not required in the largest school systems in the state, did not extend to Topeka’s junior and senior high schools, which were integrated in the classroom, albeit not necessarily in after-school activities.
In September 1950, Mr. Brown walked his eldest daughter, Linda, a short distance from their home to the all-white Sumner School, attempting to enroll her. However, they were promptly refused admission. Mr. Kluger writes that Mr. Brown, along with other black parents in similar situations, where their children had to endure long daily commutes to attend the city’s segregated black schools, was likely approached by McKinley Burnett, the leader of the NAACP branch in Topeka, to join the lawsuit.
During a conference held last month at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Mr. Burnett’s daughter, Maurita Burnett Davis, reminisced about how people often questioned why her father didn’t file a lawsuit on behalf of his own children. “We lived right next to the Monroe School, and we didn’t have to pass any other school to get there,” she explained.
The lawsuit was heard in 1951 by a special three-judge panel from the U.S. District Court at the federal courthouse in Topeka. Thurgood Marshall, who spearheaded the NAACP Legal Defense Fund’s national strategy against school segregation, did not travel to Topeka. However, defense-fund lawyers Robert L. Carter and Jack Greenberg joined forces with local attorneys to challenge the Topeka policy.
‘Hallelujah Time’
When a staff member of the newly-established Brown Foundation stumbled upon an auction sign in front of the school, led by Cheryl Brown Henderson, the youngest daughter of Oliver Brown, they wasted no time and began their efforts to raise funds to acquire the site.
With the support of the Brown Foundation, the federal Trust for Public Land purchased the school in 1991, and the following year, Congress passed a legislation to establish the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site. Subsequently, the foundation and the National Park Service embarked on a comprehensive planning process to restore the building and establish the museum. The federal government has contributed over $11 million to the site, although not all of it has been utilized, according to Mr. Adams from the National Park Service.
During the University of Kansas conference held from March 14-17, one of the participants was Leola Brown Montgomery, the widow of Oliver Brown who passed away in 1961. She recounted how her first husband had been actively involved in the local NAACP, which led to his participation in the case.
When the Supreme Court pronounced its verdict on May 17, 1954, it was nearing lunchtime in Topeka. Mrs. Montgomery, who will be turning 83 next month and still resides in Topeka, vividly remembered her whereabouts when she received the news.
“I was at home, doing the family’s ironing,” she recalled. “When the decision came down, I could hardly contain my excitement for the family to return home.”
Upon Mr. Brown’s arrival to their humble abode on First Street, his wife recounted him saying, “‘Thanks be to God.'”We had a joyous celebration.”
The coverage of the 50th anniversary of the Brown decision is financially supported by grants from the Ford and Rockefeller foundations.