1939-1954

Jackie Robinson

A major breakthrough in sports was made when Jackie Robinson, a 28 year-old black baseball player was brought up from the minor leagues to play for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Many whites and all blacks favored this decision but a large number of whites, even many MLB players did not agree with letting him play. One southern player purposely spike Jackie with his cleat leaving a huge gash. Fans would yell racial slurs at him as he played. Robinson integrating baseball changed segregation everywhere, causing other racial barriers to fall

Brown v. Board of Education

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that racial segregation in public schools violated the 14th amendment to the Constitution. The 1954 decision declared that separate educational facilities were completely unequal. Brown v. Board case came about because the parents of 8 year-old Linda Brown felt it was unfair that she had to go to a school farther away because of the color of her skin. Five schools were thought to have violated the 14th amendment. Thurgood Marshall fought the case in the Supreme Court.