On May 17, 1954, the Supreme Court ruling in Brown v. Board of Education in Topeka, Kansas “was a monumental judicial turning point for [the] nation [as required]…the legal framework for racial segregation”1 must be dismantled. This controversial framework was dismantled because it “violates the 14th Amendment of the United States Constitution, which guarantees all citizens equal protection of the laws.”2 Following this ruling, Southern states slowly began to desegregate public schools. Racial tensions between blacks and whites were extremely high prior to this Supreme Court ruling; dated back to the late 19th century.3 The idea of “negrophobia,” or fear of black individuals, essentially “spread throughout the South and much of the nation at the end of [this] century”4 during this period . Many people believed this was because “many whites resented blacks' signs of success and social influence.”5 As the years passed, tensions between these two groups increased and the inferiority complex displayed by many citizens whites continued for a long period. of time. Because of this inferiority complex represented by white Americans, segregation slowly began to occur. Public facilities, public restrooms, schools, public transportation, and healthcare facilities were just some of the things that slowly began to become segregated over time.6 Soon this ideal began to become the “norm” and racism became normal and accepted among people. Americans. The racial integration of blacks and whites has caused much controversy among both groups; they each had different views because racism has been accepted and normal for many years. A careful review of private accounts reveals that the African-Ameri... middle of paper ......outhern Oral History Program Collection (#4007) in the Southern Oral History Program Collection, Southern Historical Collection, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Published by Documenting the American SouthOral History Interview with Gloria Register Jeter, December 23, 2000. Interview K-0549. Southern Oral History Program Collection (no. 4007) in the Southern Oral History Program Collection, Southern Historical Collection, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Published by Documenting the American SouthOral history interview with Joanne Peerman, February 24, 2001. Interview K-0557. Southern Oral History Program Collection (no. 4007) in the Southern Oral History Program Collection, Southern Historical Collection, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Published by Documenting the American South
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