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Statistics showed that, in 2000, 40 percent ofblack students nationwide attended schoolswith populations that are over 80 percent black.That, she maintained, did not indicate success.“Brown gave us legal access, acceptance andachievement, but lawcannot legislate heart,”she concluded.Law professor Dr.John Brittain arguedthat poverty, notrace, is a more prominentbarrier to equaleducation. It servesas a proxy for poorperformance, he toldthe audience; “thereis a greater correlationbetween povertyand achievement thanParticipants are, from left (seated): Cheryl Brown Henderson,Linda Brown, Dean McKen Carrington; (standing, from l)professor John Brittain, Dr. Merline Pitre, Dr. Franklin Jones,Dr. Cherry Gooden, professor James Douglas and AssociateDean Carroll Robinson.race and achievement,” he said. Fifty years afterthe Brown decision, the country has re-trendedtoward segregation and integration is no longerpursued. Brittain stressed that the fiscal strugglebetween urban and suburban schools representsthe new color line.Sisters Cheryl Brown Henderson and LindaBrown then addressed the crowd of mostlyThurgood Marshall law students, delving intothe personal history of the case and its positiveand negative ramifications. Brown, who wasthe child refused entry to an all-white school,discussed the climate of Topeka, Kan. at thetime of the lawsuit was filed. It was not a fightregarding the quality of black schools, but rathera reaction to the inaccessibility that African-American children had to their neighborhoodschools. While black families were not segregatedto certain Topeka neighborhoods, theirchildren were oftentimes bussed several milesfrom their homes to attend school, rather thanbe allowed to walk only a few blocks to attendclasses with white children. Brown v. Board ofEducation also fractured the black communityof Topeka, Brown said, as many black teacherswere threatened with the loss of their jobs.They were only promised jobs for the followingschool year if the decision upheld separateschooling; it was thought that, were the schoolsto integrate, white parents would not want theirchildren taught by black teachers.“Neither my parents nor I realized how farreaching this suit would become,” Brown toldthe audience. Over 300 suits were consolidatedunder the umbrella of Brown; the SupremeCourt did not decide ituntil three years after theinitial grievance was filed.“Brown was 105 yearsin the making,” Hendersonasserted, citing a list ofsimilar cases. In Kansasalone, 11 prior school segregationcases had beenfiled before Brown in 1951.The case stemmed from aconcerted effort on behalfof the NAACP to test localsegregation laws; the associationorganized groups ofAfrican-Americans to attempt to register theirchildren at the nearest white school to theirhome and report the result. Oliver L. Brownwas the tenth individual in the last experimentalgroup. Though her father’s role was significant,Henderson praised everyone involved. “It isthe ‘et al’ we really want to commemorate,” shetold listeners.Henderson then listed an array of benefitsof the Brown decision, not the least of whichwas the overturning of Plessy v. Ferguson andthe toppling of similar school segregation lawsin 21 states. Additionally, it defended humanrights. Conversely, however, the decisionresulted in countless African-American schools– many excellent – around the country beingclosed as well as a scarcity of African-Americanteachers, as many of them could no longer findemployment with majority school districts.Moreover, the ensuing years since the rulinghave seen the rise of bussing as a means to integrate,resources being withheld from schools inhigh minority and/or high poverty areas, andthe proliferation of private and magnet schools,which are often times inaccessible or unaffordableto black students. Though Henderson feltthat “we are absolutely, positively better offthan we were pre-Brown,” an important questionmust be broached, she said. “Does justicefor all mean anything?”32 Summer 2004 • GENERATIONS OF PRIDE
“ Thank You TSU”Gov. Rick Perry, right, swears inMarc Carter as new judge of the 228thCriminal Court. Carter's wife Roswitha(2nd l) and his two daughterslook on.“ Always Ask Questions,”Former Texas governorMark White.On January19, politicosand legalpundits fromaround Houstongathered in thePaige EducationBuilding to notonly rememberthe legacy of Dr.Martin LutherKing Jr., butto pay their respect to Marc Carter, who wasinstalled as judge of the 228th Criminal Court.Texas Gov. Rick Perry swore Carter in as over200 people applauded his distinguished legalcareer.The program included remarks from thegovernor as well as Dr. Slade, University ofHouston Regent Lynden Rose and Judge MikeFields of the County Criminal Court at LawFormer Texas Gov.Mark White visitedcampus March 10,and brought with himan uncomplicated, yetimportant request forThurgood Marshall lawstudents: always questionyour surroundings. Thistheme was interspersedthroughout his address onhomeland security, whichwas concise, but dynamic.He explained the pivotal function the aspiringattorneys will undoubtedly play in the future ofAmerica, as well as the vital role they will havein the “successes we enjoy in this country.”Yet, White urged the audience to be vigilant.Don’t feel overly secure simply because twoyears have passed since the World Trade Centerattack, he said. He recalled the initial WTCThurgood Marshall Alum AppointedCriminal Court Judge#4. Carter’s wife, Roswitha, had the honor ofrobing her husband immediately after he wassworn in.Carter thanked TSU, where he earnedhis law degree in 1993, for continued supportthroughout the years. As grateful as he was forthe support from friends and colleagues, he heldthe lion’s share of praise for his parents. Herevealed the struggles of his father, a decorated,career member of a then-segregated military.Courage and passion were words indicative ofhim, Carter said, and he learned from him to“never think of anything in life as a barrier.”My heroes didn’t wear Nikes, they worecombat boots and camouflage,” he declared.Carter paralleled his new court district with arenowned Army installation, saying, “The 228this now the 82nd Airborne of courtrooms inTexas.” The 82nd Airborne is recognized as thelargest military parachute squad in the world.Ex-Governor TellsLaw Studentsbombing, noting that a decade passed betweenit and the September 11 tragedy. In the wakeof such a resounding incident, it is especiallycrucial that individuals ask questions. “Analyzeyour case,” he told the future lawyers. Askingquestions as both attorneys and as private citizensis important, and one must “be careful notto confuse your government with your country.Our country is great,” he continued, “but ourgovernment needs watching.”White commended the audience for its collectiveachievements in law school, but challengedthe students to become contributingmembers of society, not simply successful litigators.He reminded them to give back after graduation,to both their university and their community.Above all, he said, they should continueto hope and continue to dream, for thosetwo things are what make America unique. “Ifwe ever fail to dream,” he said, “that will be thebeginning of the end of this country.”GENERATIONS OF PRIDE • Summer 2004 33
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Page 8 and 9: O n the Move Again:Maroon and Gray
Page 10 and 11: Agent of HumilityTrevor N. Mitchell
Page 12 and 13: Up, Up & AwayAlumna Blasts off in A
Page 14 and 15: FEATURESDefying the OddsTrevor N. M
Page 16 and 17: ALUMNI IN THE NEWSChicago, May 2004
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Page 23 and 24: NEWSTigerWalkPaved inGold:From left
Page 25 and 26: NEWSCreatingNewTraditionsTSU Holds
Page 27 and 28: NEWSAnAffair toRememberDr. Priscill
Page 29 and 30: NEWSPolitics of a New GenerationHip
Page 31: LookingBack toMoveForwardCheryl Bro
Page 36 and 37: NEWSTiger Touchdown!Texas Southern
Page 38 and 39: N E W S & N O T E SOi-Yee Ivy Chui,
Page 40 and 41: Marcus Garveyor Mahatma Ghandi?Stud
Page 42 and 43: ensure access and equal, quality ca
Page 44: Generations of PrideOffice of Commu

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