[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 75 (Monday, May 19, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E768-E769]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 IN RECOGNITION OF THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF BROWN V. BOARD OF EDUCATION

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. SANFORD D. BISHOP, JR.

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 19, 2014

  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, May 17, 2014 marked the sixtieth 
anniversary of the landmark United States Supreme Court ruling in Brown 
v. Board of Education.
  As Chief Justice Earl Warren wrote in his unanimous decision, ``In 
the field of public education the doctrine of `separate but equal' has 
no place. Separate educational facilities are inherently unequal.'' The 
Brown ruling declared that state laws establishing separate public 
schools for black and white students were unconstitutional under the 
Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
  Although initially met with resistance, Brown v. Board of Education 
provided an impetus to education reform, paved the way for integration, 
and proved an integral part of the American Civil Rights Movement.
  As we commemorate the sixtieth anniversary of this case, we celebrate 
the achievements that have been made in our country's classrooms to 
ensure that all students--regardless of color--receive a quality 
education. We still have a long way to go, however, to ensure that the 
promise of Brown is fully realized. Many school districts today have 
not fully desegregated. In addition, many students--particularly those 
who are minorities and come from low-income families--lack access to 
advanced placement classes; the latest education technology; safe 
learning environments; extracurricular activities; and clean, well-
functioning classrooms. As we commemorate the sixtieth anniversary of 
Brown, it is vital that we take stock of its legacy and do all that we 
can to ensure that our children have equal opportunities to succeed.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in applauding the 
achievements that have come to fruition over the past six decades in 
the American classroom since Brown v. Board of Education. Let us work 
together to fully realize its promise and create a more perfect Union.

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