[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 69 (Monday, May 17, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E879-E880]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   EXPRESSING SENSE OF CONGRESS THAT ALL AMERICANS OBSERVE THE 50TH 
    ANNIVERSARY OF BROWN V. BOARD OF EDUCATION WITH A COMMITMENT TO 
             CONTINUING AND BUILDING ON THE LEGACY OF BROWN

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                               speech of

                            HON. JERRY MORAN

                               of kansas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 13, 2004

  Mr. MORAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 50th 
anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court decision in Brown versus the 
Topeka Board of Education.
  In 1951, a door closed on Linda Brown when she was denied admission 
to an all-white public school in Topeka, Kansas. But on this day in 
1954, a door opened for our nation. The Brown decision was the 
culmination of many desegregation cases. Previous court decisions had 
ruled that ``separate but equal'' was a valid policy.
  By ruling in favor of Linda Brown, the Supreme Court helped America 
finally open its eyes and see that segregation is, in fact, wrong and 
does, in fact, perpetuate inequality. Through the plight of young 
Linda, a mere third-grader, Americans came to understand that separate 
is never equal.
  While in law school, I was privileged to study under Paul Wilson. 
Earlier in his life. as a humor Kansas assistant attorney general, 
Professor Wilson was assigned to defend the Topeka Board of Education. 
He never suspected that he would end up arguing before the Supreme 
Court.
  I would like to take a moment and pay tribute to Professor Wilson. 
His role in the Brown decision was a difficult one. He knew that 
segregation was wrong, but he was charged with the duty of defending 
the Topeka Board of Education. During his time at the University of 
Kansas, Professor Wilson wrote about the Brown decision and his 
recollections of that time period. In the classroom, he told my fellow 
students and me about his trip to Washington, D.C., and about being 
admitted to the Supreme Court bar. He said to us, ``The decision issued 
in 1954 caused me, caused America, to realize that to argue the policy 
of separate but equal was to defend the indefensible.'' Professor 
Wilson's words, and the tales of experiences, have stayed with me.
  We must never lose sight of the importance of Brown versus the Topeka 
Board of Education. This decision has set a higher standard for our 
schools and for our nation. Even today, disparities exist among groups 
of students, and we must continue working to ensure that all students 
are learning what they need to learn, and are receiving the kind of 
high-quality education they deserve.
  As the father of two daughters, one in middle school and one in high 
school, I am thankful for the change that the Brown decision brought to 
the American education system and to our society. I am thankful that my 
daughters attend school in a country where all children are considered 
equal.
  Our public schools today are rich in diversity because of the hard 
work of the NAACP, and the willingness of Linda Brown and her family to 
stand up for what is right. Because of the Brown decision, we are 
better able to foster understanding, tolerance, and morality in our 
young people.

  I am proud to have been a part of establishing the Brown vs. Topeka 
50th Anniversary Commission in 2001. Since its inception, the 
Commission has been preparing for this anniversary. Commission members 
have traveled all over the country, visiting the cities whose 
desegregation cases set the stage for Brown's success. The Commission 
has also encouraged many activities across the nation related to the 
anniversary, including an essay contest, a film and discussion series, 
and traveling museum exhibits.
  I want to thank everyone who worked to make this anniversary so 
memorable and so historic. Cheryl Brown Henderson, daughter of the late 
Oliver Brown, has worked tirelessly, not only for this anniversary, but 
also for educational equity everywhere. As cofounder of the Brown 
Foundation for Educational Equity, Excellence and Research, Mrs. Brown 
Henderson has helped establish a living tribute to the plaintiffs and 
attorneys involved in the Brown case.
  Today, President Bush visited Kansas for the first time. The 
President spoke this morning in Topeka at the dedication of the 
National Park Service's $11.3 million historic site in the Monroe 
School, the former all-black school that Linda Brown attended before 
the 1954 Supreme Court ruling. I want to thank President Bush and the 
city of Topeka for helping to make this anniversary worthy of the event 
it commemorates.
  We cannot forget that our work is not yet done. We have celebrated 
and remembered, but we must do more. We must recommit ourselves to the 
philosophy behind the Brown decision--to the elimination of bias and 
the changing of society for the better. We must continue working to 
provide equal opportunities for all. We must make a fresh commitment to 
this Nation's children.
  Colleagues, I trust we can be of one voice tonight. Let us join 
together in our celebration

[[Page E880]]

of the 50th anniversary of the Brown decision and in our renewed 
commitment to our children.

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