The Women of Brown: 70th Anniversary of Brown vs. Board of Education

Twelve Black women were at the forefront of the civil rights movement as plaintiffs in the landmark – and now 70-year-old – Brown vs. Board of Education case. Their contributions to the Civil Rights Movement have often been overlooked, yet they are essential to the story of the ruling and its impact on American society.

The women who attempted to enroll their children in segregated white schools but were turned away made up 12 of the 13 parents involved who filed. Oliver Brown was the 13th; the case was named after him. The filing eventually made its way to the U.S. Supreme Court where it was joined with other similar cases from around the nation.

Donna Rae Pearson, a curator at the Kansas Historical Society, shines a light on the women’s stories in an effort to ensure that their names are not forgotten.

Pearson is a commissioner on Topeka’s Planning and Local Landmarks Commission and a board member for the Stormont Vail’s Community Advisory Committee and the Northeast YWCA of Kansas. She has a master’s in history from Wichita State University.

Humanities Kansas sponsored Pearson’s research for this talk.