Activist to Talk about Legacy of Landmark Civil Rights Case as A part of MLK Day — Muncie Journal

By On Jan 17, 2021

Muncie, IN – Activist Cheryl Brown Henderson will discuss the legacy of the landmark Brown v Board of Education case at Ball State University on February 2 as part of Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Unity Week celebrations.

She is the founding president of the Brown Foundation for Educational Justice, Excellence and Research and a daughter of the lead plaintiff in the landmark US Supreme Court case. The virtual presentation starts at 7 p.m. at Zoom. It’s free and open to the public.

Ball State’s annual Unity Week, held February 1-7 this year, aims to challenge perspectives on issues of diversity, inclusivity and solidarity.

“The Ball State community will learn a lot about the legendary case from a person with a unique perspective,” said Bobby Steele, director of Ball State’s Multicultural Center. “There are few people like Cheryl Brown Henderson who can give such thoughts on how the historic decision helped promote civil rights in our country.”

Brown Henderson is one of three daughters of the late Rev. Oliver L. Brown, who and 12 other parents filed a lawsuit against the local school board in the fall of 1950 in Topeka, Kansas, on behalf of their children. They were led by NAACP lawyers.

In the milestone ruling, the Supreme Court ruled that segregating children in public schools was unconstitutional because of race. It signaled the end of legalized segregation in schools in the United States and overruled the “separate but equal” principle set out in the 1896 Plessy v Ferguson case.

In addition, she has two decades of experience in the areas of political advocacy, implementation of public order and development of federal legislation.

Her education includes a bachelor’s degree from Baker University, Baldwin City, Kansas; a Masters degree from Emporia State University, Emporia, Kansas; and honorary degrees from Washburn University and the University of South Florida.

Unity Week is planned by heads of the student organization and professional staff from across the university. Since 1980, Unity Week has continued to be dedicated to unifying the Ball State community through insightful social, cultural, and educational events.