James T. Patterson's "Brown vs. Board of Education"

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses James T. Patterson's "Brown vs. Board of Education: A Civil Rights Milestone and its Troubled Legacy", which utilizes the work of commentators, critics, and academics to assess the educational changes since Brown vs. Board of Education declared that 'separate but equal' has no place in the schools of the United States. The author relates that Patterson includes the Civil Rights movement, the Martin Luther King, Jr. and John F. Kennedy assassinations, racial discord and the following enactment of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the effects of Johnson's War on Poverty, and the impact of the current rise in conservative politics. The paper contends that Patterson presents his argument from the legal perspective, which seems to limit his position in a biased manner.

From the Paper:

"Patterson takes the point of view of "most Americans", which seems somewhat ingratiating and one sided. "Most Americans" believe that the Constitution stands for a basic set of liberties that are 'self evident' as well as in the best interests of its citizens. The Bill of Rights and other amendments were legislated as a means of guaranteeing the rights meant to be included within the Constitution by the framers. Time, history and social experiences have led to the need to have these documents interpreted and, therefore, questioning the validity of public opinion as indicated by "most Americans"."

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