Political science professor Peter Irons gave the keynote speech during Thurgood Marshall Week on Nov. 18, speaking about his new book “”Jim Crow’s Children: The Broken Promise of the Brown Decision”” in front of a crowded Price Center Ballroom.
Guardian
The lecture marked the 50th anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court Brown v. Board of Education ruling, in which Justice Thurgood Marshall played a pivotal role for the desegregation of the public school system.
The main focus of Irons’ speech was what he called “”the silent reversal of the Brown decision by the Supreme Court.””
Irons said that the promise laid out in the 1954 verdict was broken only a year after, when states were allowed to desegregate at an “”all-deliberate speed,”” a term Irons finds to be an oxymoron.
“”We have returned to the Jim Crow laws today,”” Irons said. “”Every year since 1988, segregation of our schools has increased … the racial gap in achievement has widened.””
Irons described his own education at a segregated junior high school in the 1950s, and explained he did not notice the racial separation at the time. William Penn Junior High School was part of the New Castle, Del., school district, one of the five districts listed in the Brown v. Board of Education lawsuit as companion cases.
Irons described a plan to do away with discrimination in schools today and to launch a “”new collective attitude of equality.”” In his plan, federal funding would go to equalize schools nationwide.
“”The Thurgood Marshall Plan would set aside $87 billion out of the federal budget ‹ I just came up with that number ‹ and put it into the 50 largest school districts with a majority of the students of color,”” Irons said.
Some students at the lecture said they liked Irons’ plan and felt like he was taking a crucial stance for the students.
“”I think [Irons’ proposal] is one approach toward equalizing the educational system in the U.S.”” Earl Warren College senior Tri Nguyen said.
Other students found his proposal to be good in theory but not practical in reality.
“”I don’t think giving money to the public school system is the way to do it,”” Marshall freshman J.C. Wick said. “”The problem stems from [students’ of color] social realities. We need to rebuild their communities.””
Marshall freshman Amber Sears said Irons was an inspiring speaker.
“”I think it’s good to see someone here at a public institution that understands and embraces the plight of minorities, especially African Americans,”” she said.
In its second year, TMC Week aims to be established as an annual tradition celebrating the college’s namesake.
The week serves as a “”homecoming”” for Marshall’s core sequence of Dimensions of Culture, which centers on the issues of diversity, justice and imagination.
“”Although we don’t have football, we do have Thurgood Marshall Week,”” Marshall Provost Cecil Lytle said.
TMC Week continued on Nov. 19 with “”Up Close and Personal,”” which gave students the opportunity to meet with Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Joseph W. Watson, the founding provost of Marshall college.
TMC Week was scheduled to continue with the Day of Service with Jefferson Elementary School, but was changed to a community service event in coordination with the Active Community at Marshall and Preuss School. Volunteers will make cards for victims of the San Diego area fires on Nov. 20 starting at 10 a.m. at the OceanView Lounge.
Marshallpalooza! will conclude the week on Nov. 21. Students will be given free food and the opportunity to participate in activities such as dunk tanks, obstacle courses and a Ferris wheel.
There will be a talent show with UCSD students, and a concert with three UCSD bands ‹ Straight No Chaser, Martin Storrow and Sunset Fiction ‹ and headliner Noise Ratchet will close the night. Marshallpalooza! will begin at 2 p.m. at Marshall Field.
