Required Post 3: Charles Hamilton Houston

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“1.Prior to watching this video have you ever heard of Charles Hamilton Houston? If not, are you surprised and why? If yes, what additional information did you learn?

Prior to watching The Road to Brown, I was not familiar with Charles Hamilton Houston or the extent of his contributions to civil rights. This surprised me, given how essential he was to dismantling segregation in the United States. In my previous history and civics classes, discussions of desegregation usually focused on figures such as Thurgood Marshall or on Brown v. Board of Education itself, while Houstons role was rarely mentioned. What stood out most to me was learning that Houston was the primary one behind the legal campaign that eventually led to the Brown decision. His work laid the groundwork years before the Supreme Court ruled on school segregation, and without his early planning and legal victories, that outcome may not have occurred when it did.

One of the most important aspects of Houstons work was his deliberate and realistic approach to change. He understood that the Supreme Court was unlikely to overturn the separate but equal doctrine all at once. Instead, he focused on forcing states to meet the standard they claimed to uphold by demanding truly equal schools, salaries, and resources. This strategy exposed the fact that segregation could never produce real equality. His role as an educator at Howard University Law School was also significant, as he trained and mentored future civil rights attorneys, including Thurgood Marshall, who carried on his work.

Learning about Charles Hamilton Houston showed that historical narratives often emphasize major victories while overlooking the individuals who made them possible. His story demonstrates that meaningful change often occurs gradually through persistence, discipline, and personal sacrifice.

2.What events in this video helped contribute to the empowerment or disempowerment of present day race relations? Explain.

Several events presented in The Road to Brown contributed to both the disempowerment and empowerment that continue to shape race relations today. One of the most influential disempowering events was the Supreme Court ruling in Plessy v. Ferguson, which legalized segregation under the doctrine of separate but equal. This decision allowed states to enforce segregation across nearly all areas of public life, including education, transportation, and healthcare. The video clearly showed how this ruling normalized inequality and gave legal approval to discrimination, creating long-lasting social and economic disparities.

The Jim Crow era further reinforced disempowerment through violence, intimidation, and exclusion from legal protection. The videos discussion of lynchings, voter suppression, and segregation in public spaces illustrated how the law often failed to protect African Americans. These experiences help explain why distrust of legal and governmental systems continues in many Black communities today.

At the same time, the video highlighted events that empowered African Americans and reshaped race relations. Charles Hamilton Houstons legal strategy to challenge segregation through education marked a critical turning point. His work with the NAACP and early court victories demonstrated that the Constitution could be used to demand justice rather than deny it. The eventual ruling in Brown v. Board of Education represented a major shift by declaring segregation unconstitutional and affirming the equal protection rights of Black students.

Together, these events show that present-day race relations are shaped by both the lasting harm of legalized discrimination and the progress achieved through sustained legal and social resistance.

3.As it relates to education, what inequalities still remain? Why do you think these inequalities still remain?

Although schools are no longer legally segregated, significant inequalities in education still exist. One of the most persistent issues is unequal school funding. Because public schools are largely funded through local property taxes, schools in wealthier communities often receive far more resources than schools in lower-income areas. Many schools that serve predominantly Black and minority students lack updated facilities, technology, advanced coursework, and extracurricular opportunities.

Another major inequality involves access to experienced educators and support services. Underfunded schools often experience high teacher turnover and limited access to counselors, special education services, and mental health resources. These conditions affect both academic performance and student well-being. Additionally, disciplinary practices continue to disproportionately affect students of color, contributing to achievement gaps and higher dropout rates.

These inequalities remain because segregation continues in practice, even if it no longer exists by law. Residential segregation, income inequality, and systemic racism still influence where families live and which schools students attend. Political resistance to changes in funding systems and education reform also allows these disparities to persist. Educational challenges are often framed as individual shortcomings rather than systemic failures, which limits meaningful reform. The video emphasized that true equality in education requires more than legal access. It requires long-term investment, accountability, and a willingness to address structural inequities that continue to shape educational outcomes.

4.What case/cases will you remember 6 months from now? Why?

The case I will most remember six months from now is Brown v. Board of Education, but for different reasons than before watching the video. Previously, I viewed Brown as a single moment that ended school segregation. The video showed that it was actually the result of decades of careful legal planning led by Charles Hamilton Houston and continued by Thurgood Marshall and the NAACP.

I will also remember Sweatt v. Painter because it challenged the idea that equality could be measured only by physical facilities. The Supreme Courts recognition that education includes reputation, professional networks, and academic environment made this case especially meaningful. It demonstrated that segregation creates inequality even when institutions appear similar on the surface.

Another case that stood out was Missouri ex rel. Gaines v. Canada, which revealed how states attempted to avoid integration by sending Black students to schools in other states. The Courts ruling that states must provide equal educational opportunities within their own borders represented an important step toward dismantling segregation.

These cases are memorable because they show how discrimination evolves and how progress often occurs gradually. Together, they illustrate that lasting social change depends on persistence, strategic thinking, and continued challenges to injustice over time.”