The revolution will not be televised
Although in slow motion, a revolution has come to light with the 60th anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education, 347 U.S. 483 (1954). In Brown, a unanimous Supreme Court struck down the separate-but-equal doctrine that had justified the systematic and legally enforced subjugation of African Americans for many decades following the abolition of slavery. Specifically, the Supreme Court ruled that racial segregation of schools inherently violates fundamental civil rights enshrined in the Constitution. Unfortunately, according to a recent study, the vital legacy of Brown has been subtly but decisively neutralized. Due to an interlocking set of public policies, including education “reform,” public schools have returned to being virtually as racially segregated as they were at the time of the Brown decision.
On a more positive note, another revolution appears to be underway in the service industry. Fast-food employees in 150 cities in the United States and over 30 countries on 6 continents rallied on May 15, 2014 for fair wages and the right to organize free from employer retaliation. The global demonstration for workplace fairness is reportedly the largest ever of its kind and is a continuation of strikes and other action that began in 2012 and spread like wildfire in cities around the country in 2013. In addition to engaging in such direct action, employees are also now pursuing class action lawsuits in various jurisdictions to address alleged wage violations and other workplace problems.
As the legacy of Brown illustrates, the creative and multi-faceted community advocacy in concert with litigation now occurring in the service industry can transform the nation for the better. As the aftermath of Brown also exemplifies, however, preserving and expanding such advances requires constant vigilance.
