The Fight for Racial Equality In North Carolina

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Plessy vs. Ferguson was a landmark decision passed in 1896 that instituted the practice of 'separate but equal' in American society. The 'separate but equal' doctrine was an oppressive system of racial segregation which greatly lessened the rights of all minorities especially in public education. The fight for educational equality made public schools in North Carolina and other states in the south a major area of conflict. Wilma Peebles-Wilkins noted, 'Upward mobility through the educational structure is in keeping with the desires of post-World War II black Americans to enhance their economic, political, and social statuses.' There were many court cases in which organizations such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and private citizens questioned the constitutionality of the dehumanizing practice of 'separate but equal'. The cases were filled on the pretence that segregation was not equal among the races which was a direct violation of the 14 Amendment of the constitution of the United States. After many noteworthy attempts to end segregation, on May 17, 1954 the Supreme Court of the United States of America rendered the Brown vs. Board of Education, Topeka, Kansas decision which ruled that ?segregated schools were inherently unequal.? The fight for equality and civil rights had been a long battle fought in America. Although a great victory had been won for minorities in America a greater battle was yet to come regarding the unwillingness of many states such as North Carolina to fail to comply with the Supreme Court ruling. According to Nelson H. Harris,? The Negro in North Carolina and other states has been forced to face all kinds of prejudices, hatred, contempt and discrimi...

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...sion also leads to more turmoil within North Carolina.

On February 14, 1969 150 blacks from Hyde County, joined by 800 students from Shaw and Saint Augustine College protested an integration policy that would close two of their school in Raleigh. The demonstrators walked over four miles and spent over two hours protesting around the capital and education building. Leaders of the movement had a promising conversation with Dr. Craig Phillips, The State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Superintendent Phillips stated that ?He hoped to persuade the Hyde County School authorities to return temporarily to a freedom of choice plan that would enable the Negro children to return to school next week.? Attempts of policy makers to abide by the Brown Decision and advocate for fair integration plan ultimaley ended the fight for integration in North Carolina.

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