Brown v. the Board of Education and the Civil Rights Movement

Michael Klarman's book awarded Columbia University's prestigious Bancroft Prize
See also the recent Inside UVa story.

Many believe the Bill of Rights captures America's spirit of individual freedom. But how well has our country's government and judicial systems legislated its citizens' civil liberties? In this talk Professor Klarman will discuss several issues relating to the Brown v. Board of Education decision:
• Why was Brown a hard case for the Supreme Court Justices?
• How were the Supreme Court Justices able to overcome their legal doubts about invalidating school segregation to achieve a unanimous decision invalidating that practice?
• What were the consequences of Brown including the backlash in southern politics?

May 9, 2005
7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Jefferson Madison Regional Library
201 East Market St.
Charlottesville, VA

Jefferson Madison Regional Library website

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About the Speaker

Michael J. Klarman
James Monroe Distinguished Professor of Law
Professor of History

Professor Klarman teaches criminal law, constitutional law, theory, and history. He held the Class of 1966 Research Professorship from 1993-96 and received the first Roger and Madeleine Traynor Faculty Achievement Award for Excellence in Legal Scholarship in 1996. In 1997 he received a University of Virginia Harrison Achievement Award, a State Council of Higher Education Faculty Award, and the All-University Teaching Award, one of the University's highest honors for excellence in teaching, research, and service. He currently serves on the editorial board of the Law and History Review.

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