The courts became the avenue by which many African Americans used to further
the cause for life, liberty, and freedom. To accomplish their goals, leaders
such as Martin Luther King encouraged civil disobedience and organized
peaceful demonstrations, marches, and sit-ins. Brown versus Board of
Education spurred the civil rights movement, which extended beyond
desegregating the public school system. It caused a chain reaction that
changed the United States politically, socially, and educationally forever.
When the United States Supreme Court confirmed that the 14th
Amendment "created all men equal," the Constitution demonstrated itself to
be "living, breathing" document because the Civil Rights Act of 1964 changed
the face of race relations. Brown v Board I decided in 1954, stated that all
public schools must desegregate; Brown v. Board II handed down in 1955 dealt
with the issue of integration at "all deliberate speed." In order to
integrate "with all deliberate speed", many communities used busing as a
venue to desegregate schools. This sparked a number of controversies among
parents and community leaders. This case helped to accelerate the pace at
which civil rights topics were approached during the late 1960s, and debates
continue today. Currently, civil rights issues has extended over a period of
time to include not only race, but gender, sex, and age.
