Topeka: Still Separate And Unequal

Still Separate And Unequal

When the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1954 that the four all-black elementary schools in Topeka were "inherently unequal," the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision paved the way for desegregation efforts nationwide. Last week the battle returned to Topeka after a federal appeals court in Denver found that the school system continues to be racially segregated.

Topeka (pop. 120,000) is not actively resisting desegregation, the court found, but the system has been exercising "benign neglect" concerning racial imbalances in some schools. The case has been returned to the U.S. district court in Topeka, which will decide on remedies. Linda...

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