Brown+in+the+News

Anya: We welcome John W. Davis, a distinguished attorney from South Carolina. Mr. Davis is the leading attorney for the Defendants in the Brown vs. Board. Mr. Davis, will you please tell us a little bit about your case?

Christopher: This case is about a black girl having to walk farther for a black school, when the white school was close. The Plantiffs are trying to argue that this violates the 14th and 15th ammendment, but in the Constitution it never says that blacks and whites have to attend the same schools.

Jay: How do you think segregation should be decided?

Christopher: It’s a regional custom, and the states should be able to decide. It’s a state right. The state should be left free to regulate their own affairs.

Anya: How do you respond to the argument that segregation is harmful to black people?

Christopher: Segregation is not harmful to black people! Wouldn’t it hurt their morale more to be in a classroom with white children and trying to compete?! It’s more fair this way.

Jay: Why aren’t we able to integrate white and black children?

Christopher: Whites are making a good effort to equalize! But, black children still live with effects of slavery, it would take a lot of time for them to even be at the same level as white children.

Anya: Thank you for your time, Mr. Davis. We appreciate it.

Hello Mr. Brown can you please tell us a little bit more about your involvement in the case?


 * I was a plaintiff from Massachusetts. I wanted non-segregated elementary schools like many other parents. **


 * What were your views on civil rights and the Jim Crow laws? **


 * I didn’t support the laws about segregation, and that’s why I sued the board of education because it didn’t support my views on the 14th amendment rights that my son had. **


 * What role did the NAACP play in this decision? **


 * NAACP activists helped me bring the case before the federal court. **

What would you like the out turn of this case to be?

I would like the decision to rule in my favor; because I believe the school board should remove the segregation in the elementary school my son attends.

Thank you for your time Mr. brown.