Brown v. Board of Education memorial unveiled at Del. Legislative Hall

DOVER, Del. – Delaware leaders unveiled a memorial Thursday, highlighting the state’s unique role in ending school segregation across the nation.

Memorial Unveiled

The Brown v. Board of Education memorial was draped with royal blue fabric and golden cord, before being revealed to a cheering crowd.

With the memorial, homage is being paid to court cases involving segregation that made their way through Delaware courts in the 1950’s, before the landmark Brown v. Board of Education U.S. Supreme Court decision. The day made for a fitting tribute, given that the decision was handed down on May 17th, 1954.

Del. Played Unique Role in Ending School Segregation

Before that important day in history, Delaware’s first Black attorney, Louis L. Redding, represented the Bulah and Belton families in Delaware courts. Those suits argued that the state’s law requiring segregation on the basis of race denied Black students their constitutional rights to equal protection under the law.

United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit Chancellor Collins J. Seitz ruled in favor of the families. Those decisions marked the first in the nation to strike down school segregation. However, they only applied to the schools named in the suits.

The cases were eventually combined on appeal, and merged with four others, to become part of the Brown v. Board of Education decision; leading to the end of school segregation in the United States.

Remembering History

Those who lived through that discrimination, and transition into integrated education alongside their white counterparts, say that even today, much more work lies ahead in the name of equitable education for all.

“I could not attend the high school that was within walking distance of my house, simply because of the color of my skin,” remembered Dr. Reba Hollingsworth. “Even now, we have a dual education system in the state of Delaware. As a matter of fact, until 1973, the Delaware statute stated that Blacks only needed enough education to read, write, and count a bit.”

Looking Ahead

The memorial joins a number of others on the historic grounds of Legislative Hall, and can be found near the main entrance to the building. Delaware Governor John Carney called the unveiling an emotional event, and an important step forward.

“Learning those lessons from the past helps us move forward together, and confront the challenges that we face today,” Gov. Carney said.