The 50th Anniversary of Brown v. the Board of Education evokes visions of southern African American school children pioneering civil rights in the United States. But the battle against school segregation was fought all across the United States, including California. Segregation laws first appeared in California in the 1869 California Political Code:
"Sec. 1669. The education of children of African descent, and Indian children, must be provided for in separate schools; provided, that if the directors or trustees fail to provide such separate schools, then such children must be admitted into the schools for white children.
In the years that followed, the laws were repealed and reinstated and eventually brought down by various California lawsuits and the decision in Brown v. the Board of Education.
In observation and celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Brown decision, we offer history and background information on school segregation in Southern California, research aids and other valuable information. Please visit the Social Sciences & Humanities Library Reference Area for an exhibit and special Brown v. Board reading area, and get help at the Reference Desk with Brown v. Board research.
May 11, 4 - 6 pm: Viewing of the Lemon Grove Incident with documentary director, Paul Espinosa
