This exhibit presents a first chapter in an unfinished history. These African-American petitions are reminders that principled struggle conveys dignity even in defeat. It is also important to remember that the larger story is not one of failure. Building on the foundation of earlier activism, the modern civil rights movement achieved unimaginable success.
While we have not attained perfection as a society, we can celebrate these twentieth century milestones in the quest for fairness and equality.
Desegregating the American Military
Despite warnings that it would lead to problems with unit cohesion and battlefi eld performance, President Harry S. Truman signed an executive order desegregating the U.S. military on July 26, 1948. In 1989 General Colin Powell was appointed Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the nation’s highest military position.
General Colin Powell was the first African-American Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
- United States Army
Military desegregation
President Truman’s decision to integrate the military shares the front page with a story about lynching.
- Library of Congress
- Massachusetts State Library
School Desegregation
In 1954 Chief Justice Earl Warren spoke the historic words that
“separate educational facilities are inherently unequal” in announcing the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education
of Topeka, Kansas. This issue remains in the headlines and in the
courts today, but the terms of the debate have shifted. Few try to
justify school segregation in principle.
Linda Brown
Linda Brown was a third grade student when her family filed the desegregation lawsuit that bears her name.
- Library of Congress
Desegregation order
The U.S. Supreme Court’s historic desegregation order in Brown v. Board of Education
- National Archives