Story: Fifty Years: Brown v. Board of Education, 05/12/04
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/features/jan-june04/brown_5-12.htm

Reading Comprehension Questions:

1. When did the Supreme Court rule on Brown v. Board of Education? What did they rule? What was the result of their ruling?

2. Explain two other acts that Brown v. Board of Education impacted.

3. What situation prompted Linda Brown's father to get involved in the Brown case?

4. When did desegregation really begin to take effect? Why? What percentage of black students attended mostly white schools at the peak of desegregation?

5. What is the debate going on now in terms of school desegregation?

Discussion Activity (more research might be needed):

1. Look at the debate going on now regarding school desegregation. Which are more important, integrated schools or neighborhood schools? Explain the pros and cons of each choice. Are there other possible solutions? Explain.

2. How integrated is your school? Find out some statistics on the racial diversity in your school. Why is it this way? Does your school have programs to encourage diversity? Why or why not?

3. What are the benefits of living in a diverse culture? What can we learn from people of different racial and ethnic backgrounds? What would you lose if you had to go to a school with only people of your race? Explain your answer.

Write a 300-500 word essay on any of these topics providing clear examples. Send your completed editorial to NewsHour Extra [extra@newshour.org]. Exceptional essays might be published on our Web site.