On May 17, 1954, the United States Supreme Court announced its decision that "separate educational facilities are inherently unequal." The decision effectively denied the legal basis for segregation in Kansas and 20 other states with segregated classrooms and would forever change race relations in the United States. This site is a resource for information and source material about Brown v. Board of Education.

2008-2009 Programs at the National Historic Site

What is the American Creed?
William Tyler Page authored "The American's Creed" in 1917 and entered it in a nationwide contest for writing a national creed, a summary of the American political faith. The United States had been involved in World War I for a little over a year when the Creed was adopted and patriotism was sweeping the nation. It includes passages from the Declaration of Independence, the Preamble to the Constitution, and Gettysburg Address.

The American Creed
by William Tyler Page
I believe in the United States of America as a Government of the people, by the people, for the people; whose just powers are derived from the consent of the governed; a democracy in a republic, a sovereign Nation of many sovereign States; a perfect union, one and inseparable; established upon those principles of freedom, equality, justice, and humanity for which American patriots sacrificed their lives and fortunes.

I therefore believe it is my duty to my country to love it, to support its Constitution; to obey its laws; to respect its Flag; and to defend it against all enemies.

Program series theme is based on the opening gallery of Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site.

All programs co-sponsored by the Brown Foundation for Educational Equity, Excellence and Research and the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site, are part of the 2008-2009 program series, Race and the American Creed. Download the 2008-2009 program brochure (1.8 MB PDF).

September 1-30, 2008
African Americans and the U.S. Constitution (traveling exhibit)

October 3-31, 2008
Separate Cinema: From Micheaux to Morrison (traveling exhibit of historic movie posters)

October 14, 2008
Viva La Causa! (new documentary from Teaching Tolerance)

October 25, 2008
Bunker Hill, a Kevin Willmott Film (movie premier)

November 3-28, 2008
A Choice of Weapons (Gordon Parks photographic exhibit)

November 18-19 2008
Seminole Nation, History and Culture (classroom presentations by Lewis Johnson, Seminole Nations Museum)

December 16, 2008-January 30, 2009
Oh, Freedom Over Me (traveling exhibit)

February 16, 2009-March 30, 2009
Quilting African American Women's History: Our Challenges, Creativity and Champions (traveling exhibit)

February 18, 2009
To Kill A Mockingbird (Partnership with Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library for "The Big Read")

March 28, 2009
Saturday Night at "The Down Beat": Women's History— Blues, R & B, Jazz & Gospel Featuring Kelly Hunt

April 3-30, 2009
To Enjoy and Defend Our Citizenship: Fighting for Civil Rights In the Shadow of the Chinese Exclusion Act (traveling exhibit)

May 17, 2009
5th Anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site and
55th Anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education

June 1-30, 2009
Desegregation and Civil Rights Political Cartoons (editorial cartoonist Herb Block traveling exhibit)

Completed 2008-2009 Programs

September 10, 2008
Tim Wise, noted author and lecturer
2008 Oliver L. Brown Distinguished Visiting Scholar for Diversity Issues