The Five Cases
Explore key cases leading to Brown v. Board, ending school segregation.
Brown v. Board of Education
In Topeka, Kansas, Oliver Brown filed a case against the Board of Education after his daughter, Linda Brown, was denied entry to an all-white school.
Learn MoreBriggs v. Elliott
Originating in Clarendon County, South Carolina, this case was the first filed of the five that were combined under Brown. Initiated by Reverend J.A. DeLaine, the lawsuit contested the inadequacy of black schools and the extreme disparities in transportation and facilities compared to white students.
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Bolling v. Sharpe
This case was filed on behalf of black children in Washington D.C., challenging segregation in the public schools of the District of Columbia, which was governed by federal law. It focused on the psychological effects of segregation on black children, supported by expert testimonies. Unlike the other cases, Bolling was decided under the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment, as the D.C. schools were not governed by state law but by federal jurisdiction.
Learn MoreDavis v. County School Board
Filed in Virginia, this case was unique because it was initiated by students themselves, led by 16-year-old Barbara Johns. The students protested against the inferior conditions of their all-black school compared to the local white school. It emphasized the role of youth activism in challenging racial injustices in education.
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Belton (Bulah) v. Gebhart
In Delaware, this case was actually two cases that were heard as one. Filed by Sarah Bulah and Ethel Belton, the complaints addressed the lack of access to nearby white schools, which forced black children to endure long commutes. The Delaware Supreme Court affirmed that the plaintiffs were entitled to equal educational facilities immediately.
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