TWENTY YEARS AFTER BROWN: THE SHADOWS OF THE PAST A Report of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights BR AUJ ΟΙ First in a series U. S. COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS The United States Commission on Civil Rights is a temporary independent, bipartisan agency established by the Congress in 1957 to: Investigate complaints alleging denial of the right Appraise Federal laws and policies with respect to the Serve as a national clearinghouse for information Submit reports, findings, and recommendations to the MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION Arthur S. Flemming, Chairman Frankie M. Freeman Robert S. Rankin Manuel Ruiz, Jr. John A. Buggs, Staff Director ว The Commission on Civil Rights presents this report to you pursuant to Public Law 85-315, as amended. This is the first in a series of reports which will examine the extent of civil rights progress in the United States since Brown v. Board of Education, the Supreme Court's landmark school desegregation decision of May 17, 1954. Subsequent reports will offer specific recommendations for achieving equal opportunity, where it is lacking, in education, employment, housing, public accommodations, political participation, and the administration of justice. This report provides historical background for the material which follows. We believe that these reports, issued in commemoration of the 20th anniversary of Brown, may be of help to Federal, State, and local officials, as well as to all Americans concerned with racial justice. We hope that these reports will contribute to an informed public discussion of Brown, the status of civil rights today, and paths to racial equality in our Nation. We urge your consideration of the information presented here. Respectfully, Arthur S. Flemming, Chairman Frankie M. Freeman Robert S. Rankin Manuel Ruiz, Jr. John A. Buggs, Staff Director |