Brown v. Board and Civil Rights: A Commemoration

Join the African American Program for a conversation marking the 70th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education and the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 

In recognition of the Supreme Court’s landmark decision and the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the History Center’s African American Program will host a discussion with teachers, activists, and students to discuss this seminal moment in history and its impact today.

While the case ended legal school segregation and declared separate educational facilities to be inherently unequal, the court did not guide the implementation of Brown v. Board and left its enforcement to school districts. Ten years later, in 1964, the Civil Rights Act was signed, prohibiting discrimination in public places and employment. Civil Rights assisted in forcing the issue of removing discrimination, yet it did not provide a clear framework for school implementation for students or increasing minority hiring practices in the classroom. The execution of the ruling was met with resistance nationwide and led to challenges that continue to affect schools seventy years later.

During this commemorative program, educators will discuss issues that stemmed from the decision and share resources and information on how to advocate for public education today. Current high school students and recent graduates will then present on a variety of topics affecting education to give attendees a sense of how the landmark decision has impacted schools for the last 70 years.

This program is part of Civic Season, presented in partnership with Smithsonian and the History Made By Us national coalition, and the History Center initiative, America 101.

America 101 engages the public to learn American history through public programs, special exhibitions, digital learning tools, and educational curriculum.

America 101 is supported by Nimick Forbesway Foundation.

Call for Student Presentations

The African American Program is seeking high school students to present on a topic related to Brown v. Board of Education (1954) or the Civil Rights Act of 1964 during this program on July 2.

Participants in the program will receive a $50 Visa gift card. Learn more about submission and eligibility guidelines here.

Admission

Brown v. Board and Civil Rights: A Commemoration is free to attend and will be held in the museum’s third floor Multi-purpose Room.

Please contact DaNia Childress at dchildress@heinzhistorycenter.org or 412-454-6395 for additional questions.

Image credit: Students and a teacher in classroom on the opening day of Herron Hill Middle School, October 6, 1976. Pittsburgh Public Schools Photographs, Detre Library & Archives at the Heinz History Center.

Herron Hill Middle School was located in the Hill District and had a nearly entirely Black student population when it opened in October 1976. By this time, the Board of Public Education at Pittsburgh Public Schools was embroiled in a multiyear battle to resist desegregating its schools in accordance with a 1968 order from the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC). The PHRC denounced the lack of integration in its student body, referring to the school as another instance of “de jure [legal] segregation.”

About Takara Canty

Takara Canty, a classically trained visual artist and Visual Arts Director from Garfield Heights in Pittsburgh, developed her talent by observing her mother paint and drawing inspiration from artists like Frida Kahlo and Jean Michel Basquiat.
With over ten years of experience, she has taught art to at-risk youth and various learners, including pre-K and senior citizens, in Pittsburgh and the Greater Allegheny Area. Takara has facilitated workshops, art therapy sessions for foster children and trauma survivors, and curated adult painting classes. Her public works include murals and mosaics in collaboration with notable artists and organizations.
Despite her busy teaching schedule, she continues to create art in various forms, including painting, tattooing, welding, and sculpting.

About Jacqueline Clarke

Jacqueline Clarke, a Howard University graduate with a degree in history and a teaching certification, began her teaching career in Charlotte, North Carolina, where she specialized in personalized learning. She then returned to Pittsburgh, PA, to teach at her alma mater, Barack Obama Academy of International Studies 6-12. There, she teaches African American History and psychology within the International Baccalaureate program. Jacqueline is also the varsity cheerleading coach, sponsor for the Black Action Society, and serves on the professional development steering committee for Pittsburgh Public Schools.
Beyond the classroom, Jacqueline is dedicated to elevating the voices and opportunities of Black and brown students. She partners with Winchester Thurston to organize field trips highlighting prominent Black figures in Pittsburgh and teaches summer courses at Youth Enrichment Services. Recently, she participated in a Civil Rights Study Seminar and programs with the Carnegie Museum of Art and the University of Pittsburgh Archives focused on August Wilson. She has also coached the African American History Challenge Bowl.
Jacqueline advocates for culturally relevant curricula, believing it essential for uplifting and inspiring minority students. Her mission is to support new teachers and develop accessible African American History curricula and textbooks, aiming to become a master educator.