The Brown v. Board of Education decision is far more complex than a lawsuit to integrate public schools. This landmark victory for equality was decades in the making. Attorneys, parents, scientists, activists, and students struggled to steer the nation toward justice. After the decision, and even today, there is more work to be done by everyday citizens with a common goal—equality. More information can also be found in this guide or the site's official Historic Resource Study. Read the report online. 
Accessible Companion GuideExplore a self-guided companion to the museum, tracing slavery, segregation, Brown v. Board, and the struggle for civil rights. 
Thurgood MarshallThurgood Marshall led a life in the pursuit of equality, and was on a path destined to lead him to the U.S. Supreme Court. Read More... 
Briggs v. ElliottWhen their petition for buses was ignored, 20 parents in South Carolina filed suit to challenge segregation itself. 
Charles Hamilton HoustonHouston developed a "Top-Down" integration strategy, and became known as "The Man Who Killed Jim Crow" for his desegregation work. 
Rev. Oliver L. BrownRev. Oliver Leon Brown served as lead plaintiff, one of 13 plaintiffs, in the Board v. Board of Education U.S. Supreme Court case. 
The Five CasesBrown v. Board was the bundling of 5 cases regarding segregation. Learn about the others here. 
Brown v. Board of EducationStarted by the NAACP, 13 parents in Topeka, KS. enrolled their children in white schools but were refused. African American Experience FundThe mission of the African American Experience Fund of the National Park Foundation is to preserve African American history by supporting education programs in National Parks that celebrate African American history and culture. There are 26 National Parks identified by the African American Experience Fund: 
|
 |
|
Last updated: September 16, 2026