The Times They Are A-Changin’
The Constitution & Civil Rights

What are civil rights?
Civil rights are legal
claims for protection
that citizens are
entitled to make upon
the government.

A Changing Constitution
Some of the ways the Bill of Rights has
grown to change with society…
• guaranteed due process
• abolished slavery
• increased suffrage (voting rights)
• equal protection

Plessy v. Ferguson, 1896
The Court said that
segregation is legal
as long as the
facilities are
“separate but equal.”

Brown v. Board, 1954
The Supreme
Court reversed
their decision in
Plessy, and
declared racial
segregation “inherently unequal.”

Brown v. Board, 1954
The Court said that
separating people
only based on race is
a violation of 14th
Amendment rights.
the Brown family in Topeka, Kansas

Civil Rights Act, 1964
The Civil Rights Act declared:
• no segregation in public places
• no discrimination in employment
based on race,
gender, or
national origin
Pres. Lyndon Johnson signing the Act in 1964.

So, how far have
we come since
Brown v. Board?

Are our
schools really
desegregated?

80.0%
70.0%
60.0%
50.0%
40.0%
30.0%
20.0%
10.0%
0.0%
White Black Hispanic Asian Native Am Other
BSHS Henry Clay Lafayette Dunbar Tates Creek

60.0
55.0
50.0
40.0
29.2
30.0 27.8 26.9 Free & Reduced
23.3
20.0
10.0
0.0
BSHS Dunbar Lafayette Henry Clay Tates Creek

90.0
80.0
70.0
60.0 55.0
50.0
Index Score
40.0 Free & Reduced
27.8 29.2
30.0 26.9
23.3
20.0
10.0
0.0
BSHS Dunbar Lafayette Henry Clay Tates Creek

100.0 96.2 94.7
90.0
80.0
70.0
60.0
50.0
Free & Reduced
40.0
30.0
18.4
20.0
10.0 6.1 5.8
0.0
Johnson Cardinal Maxwell Veterans Rosa Parks
Valley Park

120.0
100.0 96.2 94.7
80.0
60.0 Free & Reduced
Index Score
40.0
18.4
20.0
6.1 5.8
0.0
Johnson Cardinal Maxwell Veterans Rosa Parks
Valley Park