Statement on the 70th Anniversary of Brown vs. Board of Education
The One Million Teachers of Color (1MToC) campaign aims to add one million teachers of color and thirty-thousand leaders of color to the education workforce by 2030. The eight 1MToC Steering Committee members released the following statement in recognition of the 70th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education—the landmark Supreme Court ruling which deemed segregation in our nation’s schools unconstitutional.
On the 70th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education, we pause and reflect on the significance of one of the most pivotal moments of the Civil Rights Movement. On May 17, 1954, the Supreme Court unanimously declared that segregation in U.S. public schools was unconstitutional. The decision not only “permanently discredited the legal rationale underpinning a racial caste system that had been endorsed or accepted by governments at all levels since the end of the nineteenth century,” but also paved the way for further desegregation efforts in housing, higher education, and other key areas of American life. However, resistance to integration following the Brown decision led to tens of thousands of Black educators being fired or forced out of the field, and as a nation, we are still grappling with the ramifications. In fact, one can draw a direct line from our nation’s current educator diversity gap to the aftermath of Brown.
Prior to Brown, in the 17 states that had segregated school systems, 35 to 50 percent of the teaching force was Black. Today, just 22 percent of teachers and 23 percent of principals across the nation identify as a person of color, and in 23 percent of all public schools, students do not have a single teacher of color.
To thrive in an increasingly diverse world and workforce, young people need to learn in multicultural environments led by diverse educators. Educators of color benefit all students, particularly students of color, both academically and in social-emotional development. Diversifying our educator pipeline is a key component of preparing all young people to succeed as part of the dynamic, multicultural workforce of the future.
States and school systems have a tremendous opportunity to course-correct the impact of Brown on educator diversity. Building and expanding more diverse educator pipelines—including Grow Your Own programs—will make it possible to tap into a talent pool eager to do purposeful work in their communities. Investing in financial support and incentives to recruit and retain educators of color can reduce many of the barriers preventing them from pursuing a career in education.
There remains much work to be done to realize the promise of Brown v. Board. The work will not be easy or quick. But, together, we can ensure all young people have access to effective and diverse educators who play a key role in propelling them into thriving lives and careers.
Join us in working towards a future in which our nation’s public school students are led by excellent teachers and school leaders who reflect the diversity of the communities they serve.