[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 22 (Thursday, February 26, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E246-E247]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CELEBRATING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF BROWN VS. TOPEKA BOARD OF EDUCATION

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DANNY K. DAVIS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 26, 2004

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and 
celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Brown vs. Board of Education. This 
case has been acknowledged as the commencement of other milestones from 
the civil rights struggle. As we take the time to embrace and 
celebrate, Brown vs. Board of Education has truly become ground zero of 
the civil rights movements. This movement has affected African 
Americans tremendously; although Brown has opened many doors for 
African Americans some have remained closed. It is unfortunate that our 
society has not truly integrated.
  Brown vs. Board of Education's primary focus was to integrate 
schools; however it did not pertain to anything occurring outside of 
schools. Several schools had been integrated, but as time persists we 
are continuing to revert back to a time of segregation within the 
schools.
  Fifty years ago the U.S. Supreme Court realized the truth that, 
``separate educational facilities are inherently unequal.'' 
Consequently, educational integration is an essential prerequisite to 
achieving a just, democratic fair society, which was finally 
acknowledged by the high court. If the U.S. Supreme Court had not 
recognized this ongoing dilemma that continuously occurred I may not be 
standing before you all today. There would not have been as many 
African American's pursuing or fulfilling their dreams and providing a 
better lifestyle for themselves and their family.
  Although Brown opened many doors and we have experienced same 
success, nevertheless much remains to come, such as the problems 
surrounding housing, poverty, inadequate education for minority 
children, and increasing the enrollment for post-graduate studies. Yet 
today, 50 years after this landmark decision, more African American, 
Latino, and Native American children attend segregated and unequal 
schools than ever before.
  Currently, Black communities in every part of the country, including 
schools, are experiencing an increase in segregation; although it does 
not surpass the stratum of the pre-civil rights of the South.
  Despite the fact, in my state, Illinois is one of the nation's most 
segregated metropolitan communities; and has been consistently among 
areas in the nation's most segregated, in terms of their schools. The 
National Center for Educational Statistics conducted a study on African 
American males ages 16-24 are more than twice as likely as white males 
to be both out of school and out of work.
  It is horrendous that children of today are continuing to experience 
segregation within educational institutions. For instance, a study 
conducted by Harvard University in 2001-2002 stated, in Illinois, 18 
percent of African American students attended white schools, while 61 
percent of African Americans attended minority schools. Some African 
American children are forced to attend school in dilapidated buildings; 
many do not receive an adequate education, and several are displaced 
into special education frequently because the teacher cannot manage the 
child's behavior.
  The school dropout rate is higher for African Americans than for 
whites. According to the Chicago Reporter, 2 out of 3 African American 
male students who entered high school did not graduate from high school 
within 5 years. White high school graduates are much more likely to go 
to college and complete college than African Americans. The problem 
also persists throughout post graduate degrees. For instance, of the 
17,000 dental students enrolled in U.S. dental schools in 1998-1999, 
less than 1,000 were African Americans, according to the American 
Dental Association (ADA). The Journal of Dental Education states that, 
African Americans instead have a higher percentage in jobs with lower 
skills and lower pay, such as a Dental Assistant rather than a Dental 
Hygienist. This clearly demonstrates the inequalities in education for 
African Americans.
  The Supreme Court was supposed to create and continue the legacy of 
``separate but equal,'' however our Nation is truly experiencing 
desegregation in public schools.
  African American students nationwide are unbelievably 
disproportionately placed in special educational classes. These 
individuals who have been overly classified as special education 
students are confronted with the denial of equal opportunity. When 
compared to white children, African American children were three times 
as likely to be labeled ``mentally retarded'' or ``emotionally 
disturbed,'' while minority students are usually misclassified, 
inadequately served, receive low quality services, or segregated from 
white students according to a study by Harvard University.
  Currently, education is perhaps the most important function of the 
state and local governments. Education is a principal instrument in 
awakening children to their cultural values, in preparing them for 
later professional training, and in helping them to adjust normally to 
their environment. If we take away a valued education, how can we 
expect any child to succeed in life? Education in not an opportunity, 
but it is a right, which the states must make available to all on equal 
terms. Unfortunately, as time recedes, the condition of receiving a 
quality education worsens daily for African Americans. Although Martin 
Luther King, Jr. had a dream he also had a nightmare, which has been 
forgotten. He predicted and was concerned that the promise of Brown and 
the civil rights law would deceive those who dedicated their lives and 
souls for the struggle of justice: In his last book, ``Where do we go 
from here? Chaos or Community,'' he stated,

       For twelve years I, and others like me, had held out 
     radiant promises of progress. I had preached to them about my 
     dream. I had lectured to them about the not too distant day 
     when we would have freedom, ``all, here and now.'' I had 
     urged them to have faith in America and in white society. 
     Their hopes had soared. They were now booing . . . because we 
     had urged them to have faith in people who had too often 
     proved to be unfaithful. They were hostile because they were 
     watching the dream that they had so readily accepted turn 
     into a frustrating nightmare.

  Now it is our duty to realize the promise of Brown, so long deferred 
and still so necessary for progress to occur within our Nation. I would 
like to leave you with one more quote by Dr. King back in 1959. He 
said, ``As I stand here and look out upon the thousands of negro faces, 
and the thousands of white faces, intermingled like the waters of a 
river, I see only one face--the face of the future.'' So, too, must we. 
Even though we may not be here to see all the fruits of our labor, we 
plant these seeds for that child being born. We plant them for the 
young people of our future.
  ``Separate can never be equal!''

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