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Charles Thompson on Desegregation, Democracy and Education: 1953-1963

Wayne Carter

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Charles Hamilton Houston, a prominent civil rights attorney and the Dean of Howard University Law School, famously declared in 1928: "The way to break down racial barriers is to get the children together." Houston's belief in the transformative power of education for social change was echoed by countless other civil rights leaders, including Charles Thompson (1918-2016).

Thompson dedicated his life to fighting for desegregation, democracy, and educational equality. As a lawyer for the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People),he played a key role in the landmark Brown v. Board of Education (1954) case that declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional. In the years that followed, Thompson continued to fight for the implementation of desegregation and for the expansion of educational opportunities for all Americans.

Charles H. Thompson on Desegregation, Democracy, and Education: 1953–1963

by Louis Ray

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Thompson's Early Life and Education

Charles Thompson was born on June 4, 1918, in El Dorado, Kansas. His father was a Baptist minister, and his mother was a schoolteacher. Thompson attended segregated schools in Kansas and Oklahoma, where he excelled academically. He went on to attend Morehouse College in Atlanta, where he studied political science. After graduating from Morehouse in 1940, Thompson attended Howard University Law School.

At Howard, Thompson was a student of Thurgood Marshall, who would later become the first African American Supreme Court Justice. Thompson was deeply influenced by Marshall's commitment to civil rights and his belief in the power of the law to bring about social change.

Thompson's Work for the NAACP

After graduating from law school in 1943, Thompson joined the NAACP as a staff attorney. He quickly became one of the NAACP's leading lawyers, and he played a key role in many of the organization's most important cases. Thompson argued several cases before the Supreme Court, including Brown v. Board of Education.

In Brown v. Board of Education, the NAACP challenged the constitutionality of racial segregation in public schools. Thompson was one of the lawyers who argued the case before the Supreme Court. In 1954, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the NAACP, declaring that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. Brown v. Board of Education was a landmark decision that helped to pave the way for the desegregation of public schools throughout the United States.

Thompson's Work for Desegregation and Educational Equality

After Brown v. Board of Education, Thompson continued to work for the desegregation of public schools. He helped to develop strategies for implementing desegregation and for overcoming resistance to desegregation from white communities. Thompson also worked to expand educational opportunities for all Americans, regardless of race.

In 1957, Thompson helped to found the Southern Education Foundation (SEF). The SEF was a non-profit organization that provided financial assistance to African American students who were attending desegregated schools. The SEF also worked to improve the quality of education in the South.

Thompson served as the executive director of the SEF from 1957 to 1963. During his tenure, the SEF provided scholarships to more than 1,000 African American students. The SEF also helped to establish and support a number of educational programs in the South.

Thompson's Legacy

Charles Thompson was a tireless advocate for desegregation, democracy, and educational equality. He dedicated his life to fighting for the rights of all Americans, regardless of race. His work helped to make the United States a more just and equitable society.

Thompson's legacy continues to inspire activists and educators today. His belief in the power of education for social change is as relevant today as it was when he was fighting for the desegregation of public schools. Thompson's work reminds us that we must never give up on the fight for justice and equality.

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Black And White Photograph Of Charles Thompson, A Civil Rights Attorney And Activist, Wearing A Dark Suit And Tie, Sitting At A Table And Looking At The Camera With A Serious Expression Charles H Thompson On Desegregation Democracy And Education: 1953 1963

Black And White Photograph Of The Supreme Court Building, Where The Landmark Brown V. Board Of Education Case Was Decided In 1954 Charles H Thompson On Desegregation Democracy And Education: 1953 1963

Black And White Photograph Of The Little Rock Nine, A Group Of Nine African American Students Who Were Escorted By Federal Troops Into Central High School In Little Rock, Arkansas, In 1957 Charles H Thompson On Desegregation Democracy And Education: 1953 1963