ABSTRACT
During the antebellum era, Southern states prohibited the education of enslaved and free blacks. Teaching slaves to read and write was considered a threat to the system of slavery. Mexican Americans fought equally as hard against discrimination and segregated education, especially in California, Texas and other southwestern states. Hard-line segregationists became the champions of Southern massive resistance to Brown. Unofficial resistance to desegregation efforts included social and economic pressure against potential black plaintiffs, the application of interposition doctrines, the emergence of Citizens Councils, open defiance, mob violence and extralegal violence perpetuated by white vigilantes and local police. The backlash against court-ordered desegregation came from many quarters, including politicians, parents and the courts. Equity in education is based on the premise that all students should have access to safe and inclusive schools. The fact is that LGBTQ students are more likely to experience bullying, homophobic epithets and other forms of verbal harassment and physical attacks in public schools.
