Linda Brown, who was the center of the landmark 1954 Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court case that abolished school segregation, has passed away at the age of 75.

Brown was a young girl in 1950 when her father, Oliver Brown, went to enroll her in Sumner Elementary School just blocks away from their home. She was, of course, denied admission to the all-white elementary school in her hometown of Topeka, Kansas.

At that time, there were four African-American schools and 18 white schools in Topeka. Brown found herself and her sisters traversing 2 miles across town to the all-black school, while passing closer all-white schools.

In 1954, Oliver Brown would sue the Topeka Board of education, with Thurgood Marshall and a team of NAACP attorneys eventually winning the case, known as Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas. The supreme court ruling overturned the concept of “separate but equal” and argued that school segregation violated the 14th amendment, which gives citizens equal protection under law.

Sherrilyn Ifill, president and director-counsel at NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund said: “It was not easy for her or her family, but her sacrifice broke barriers and changed the meaning of equality in this country.”

U.S. Representative Elijah Cummings shared a similar sentiment:

 

Legendary poet and civil rights activist Maya Angelou also honored the life of Linda Brown:

 

Dr. Cheryl Brown Henderson, sister to Linda Brown, has previously joined the Rock The Schools Podcast to talk about Brown v. Board, as well as the current state of education and school choice in America. You can listen to the conversation below:

Josh Stewart considers himself a global citizen first and foremost and is passionate about cultural exchange. He has a B.s. in Political Science and Hispanic Studies from St. John's University in Minnesota and experience as both an ESL and social studies teacher in Korea and the Philippines. He currently works a digital content Manager for Citizen Education and Education Post and enjoys both traditional and creative methods crafting messages around the desperate need to improve our education system and provide quality options to the most marginalized students and families.

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