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Cheryl Brown Henderson
Devoted to educational excellence and equity, Cheryl Brown Henderson continues the legacy of her father, the plaintiff in the landmark Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Education.
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Questions and Answers
Want to know more? Read the questions and answers below. No more questions are being taken at this time.
Q1: How long were you going to that school before your father filed the lawsuit? - Kristina, 8th Grade, from New Jersey
A: My sisters attended a segregated elementary school before the Brown decision. When the Court ruled, they (my sisters) were finishing elementary schools. Junior high schools and high schools were already desegregated.
Q2: Where do you live? - Miguel, 8th Grade, from New Jersey
A: My family lives in Topeka.
Q3: How did you feel about your father going to court fighting for his people? - Edward, 8th Grade, from New Jersey
A: The NAACP had been working with various cases since the 1930's. Topeka was merely an extension of that. My father respected the NAACP and believed in their efforts to make change on behalf of African Americans.
Q4: What was it like to be in this situation? How different was your black school compared to the white school? When you were a student did you ever talk to a student from a white school? If yes, how did you connect with him or her? - Yagel, 8th Grade, from New Jersey
A: African American segregated schools in Topeka were equal to those for white children. It was simply a matter of being denied a choice.
Q5: Did the Supreme Court ruling make your life easier or more difficult? - Stephanie, 8th Grade, from New Jersey
A: The Supreme Court ruling has made all of our lives easier by providing access to educational opportunities.
Q6: How did white people treat you and your family after your father filed his suit? - Giselle, 8th Grade, from New Jersey
A: African Americans and whites were already attending school together at the junior high and high school level. In addition, neighborhoods were integrated.
Q7: Was it hard having to live through all of this? - Debrah, 8th Grade, from New Jersey
A: Because the state of Kansas always had integrated communities unlike the South, we did not experience harsh treatment.
Q8: How did this decision affect your life? Did you ever get to attend that school? - Francesca, 8th Grade, from New Jersey
A: I started school one year later and have always attended integrated schools.
Q9: How old was your father when he died? - Roseline, 8th Grade, from New Jersey
A: My father died in 1961, just seven years after the court decision. He was 42.
Q10: Did all blacks agree with your father and what he believed in? - Kristina, 8th Grade, from New Jersey
A: Not all black people thought Brown v. Board was a good idea, some were afraid.
Q11: Were you scared for your sister's safety when she had to walk to school? - Joseph, 12th Grade, from New Jersey
A: Your question is part of the myth about Brown v. Board of Education. Many of the items found on the Internet and books about this history are not true. African American children were provided with school buses to get to school.
Q12: Did anyone ever threaten you for your father's decision to go to court? - Bryan, 8th Grade, from New Jersey
Q13: Were you ever afraid when the court case was being argued? - Natalie, 8th Grade, from New Jersey
Q14: How did it make you feel when you saw people yelling hateful things at your father and did you even know what was going on? - Kristina, 8th Grade, from New Jersey
Q15: Where you ever worried about being attacked? - Steve, 8th Grade, from New Jersey
Q16: Would you have attended an all white school if you could have? - Marquis, 8th Grade, from New Jersey
Q17: Who told you what happened to your father at that time? Were you scared when you were young? - Marcus, 8th Grade, from New Jersey
A: Families in Kansas who were involved in the case challenging segregated schools were not threatened for taking a public stand.
Q18: What did you think when all this happened a long time ago? Express your feelings. - Rebecca, 8th Grade, from New Jersey
A: My family is very proud to be associated with something as important as Brown v. Board. It feels awesome to know that this event changed so much of how our country treats people and helped start the Civil Rights movement.
Q19: How long did it take for the Supreme Court to come to their conclusion? - Kristina, 8th Grade, from New Jersey
A: The first case reached the Supreme Court in 1951. It took three years for a decision.
Q20: How old were you when this happened and did you understand what was happening? - Edward, 7th Grade, from New Jersey
A: The children involved in Brown did not understand what was going on. I was only three years old.
Q21: Were you still in school when the supreme court came to their decision? - Kristina, 8th Grade, from New Jersey
A: My two sisters were in school. I started the next year.
Q22: How old are you? - Hakeem, 8th Grade, from New Jersey
Q23: I have tried to find your age in my research and have been unsuccessful. Were you born when the Supreme Court made its ruling? - Symone, 8th Grade, from New Jersey
A: My birthday is December 20. I am now 53 years old.
Q24: When you were young, would you have felt comfortable in a white school if you were allowed to go there? - Jazmine, 8th Grade, from New Jersey
Q25: Would you have attended an all white school if you could have? - Marquis, 8th Grade, from New Jersey
A: I started school one year after the Supreme Court decision and have only attended integrated schools from kindergarten to graduate school.
Q26: Was it hard for your sister to walk across the tracks everyday? - Francisca, 8th Grade, from New Jersey
Q27: What were your emotions when you knew that your sister had to cross the railroad tracks to go to school? - Joey, 8th Grade, from New Jersey
Q28: Was it hard to see your sister go through all the stuff she went through? - Priscilla, 8th Grade, from New Jersey
Q29: Were you worried that your sister was going to die going to school? - Justin, 8th Grade, from New Jersey
A: Your question is the part of the myth about Brown v. Board of Education. Many of the items found on the Internet and books about this history are not true.
Q30: Why isn't there a holiday for Rosa Parks? ! She did so much for African Americans!!! - Teal, 9th Grade, from New York City
A: There is not a holiday for Mrs. Parks probably because it was not the first time she and others had been in trouble for not giving up their seats on city buses to allow whites to sit.
Q31: What was you early childhood like? - Roseline, 8th Grade, from New Jersey
Q32: How was your life when you were about 15? - Miguel, 8th Grade, from New Jersey
A: Growing up was a rich experience filled with activites and friendships. Unlike places in the South, we did not face harsh treatment.
Q33: Dear Ms. Brown, My daughters came home last week with some disturbing news. When they went to sit at a cafeteria table, they were informed that the table was only for white people. When I informed the asst. principal, she downplayed the incident. The next day she says the kids insisted they said for the popular people to sit at the white colored table. I knew this was a cover up. My kids' imagination are not that vivid. Needless to say, a follow up call to my husband reported the statements were true. Why is it that if a black child complains about a white child, it was misunderstood, but if it's a black on black problem, there are instant repercussions? Also, as of yet, I don't know the end result of discipline the children went through. - Parent from Long Island
A: Many whites in this country are trying to maintain their sense of privilege. Historically, slavery and other abuses against African Americans, Hispanics and Native Americans, were used to gain the upper hand. Whites have benefited from this behavior. I'm pleased you all challenged what happened to your children.
The responses and opinions contained herein are those of the respective authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of Power to Learn or Cablevision.
RELATED LINKS
Brown V Board of Education National Historic Site
http://www.nps.gov/brvb/
Brown v. Board of Education - Racial Segregation in Public Schools
http://www.pbs.org/jefferson/enlight/brown.htm
Brown vs. Board of Education: An Interactive Experience
http://www.digisys.net/users/hootie/brown/
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