Brown v. Board at 72: Will America move forward or backward?
Key takeaways
- As we reflect on May 17, 1954, we must also confront a painful reality: Many of the hard-fought gains secured through generations of sacrifice are once again under attack.
- Here in Louisiana, African Americans make up roughly one-third of our state s population.
- This is not about special treatment.
Why this matters: political developments that affect policy direction and public trust.
Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-La.), opinion contributor - 05/22/26 1:30 PM ET Comments: Link copied by Rep. Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-La.), opinion contributor - 05/22/26 1:30 PM ET Comments: Link copied. A man views an exhibit in the former Monroe school, which now houses a national historic site, Friday, May 10, 2024, in Topeka, Kan. The school was at the center of the Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court ruling ending segregation in public schools. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) Seventy-two years ago, in Brown v. Board of Education, the United States Supreme Court declared that separate but equal had no place in America. That decision was not just about classrooms. It was about citizenship. It was about dignity. It was about whether this nation would truly live up to its promise of equal justice under the law.
As we reflect on May 17, 1954, we must also confront a painful reality: Many of the hard-fought gains secured through generations of sacrifice are once again under attack.
Here in Louisiana, African Americans make up roughly one-third of our state s population. Louisiana has six congressional districts. One-third of six is two. That is not political rhetoric. That is simple math. More importantly, it reflects the legitimate existence of communities with shared interests, common histories, economic ties, cultural bonds, and geographic continuity throughout our state.