Table of Contents

Preface: Contesting the Color Line
1. Race and the Schools Before Brown
2. The Grass Roots and Struggling Lawyers
3. The Court Decides
4. Crossroads, 1954-55
5. Southern Whites Fight Back
6. Striving for Racial Balance in teh 1960s
7. The Burger Court Surprise
8. Stalemates
9. Resegregation?
10. Legacies and Lessons
Appendix I; Key Cases
Appendix II: Tables and Figures
Notes
Bibliographical Essay
Acknowledgments
Index

About the Author

James T. Patterson won the Bancroft Prize in History for Grand Expectations: The United States, 1945-1974. He is the author of numerous books concerning modern American life, he is Ford Foundation Professor of History at Brown University.

Reviews

"Patterson's new book is a compelling examination of the history behind the decision and the realities of enforcing it."--Robin Dougherty, The Boston Globe
"Absorbing book. With admirable balance, Patterson synthesizes much of the debate. His streamlined rendition reminds us that justices have always considered the social, political, and legal consequences of their decisions."--Laura Kalman, The New York Times Book Review
"Penetrating history-cum-analysis."--Jonathan Yardley, The Washington Post Book World
"This volume by a widely recognized historian of twentieth-century America presents a highly readable and well-organized overview of events leading up to the 1954 Brown decision, the decision itself, and its aftermath...Patterson does a nice job of sketching the broad outlines and placing developments in a larger context"--The Journal of Southern History

"Patterson's new book is a compelling examination of the history behind the decision and the realities of enforcing it."--Robin Dougherty, The Boston Globe "Absorbing book. With admirable balance, Patterson synthesizes much of the debate. His streamlined rendition reminds us that justices have always considered the social, political, and legal consequences of their decisions."--Laura Kalman, The New York Times Book Review "Penetrating history-cum-analysis."--Jonathan Yardley, The Washington Post Book World "This volume by a widely recognized historian of twentieth-century America presents a highly readable and well-organized overview of events leading up to the 1954 Brown decision, the decision itself, and its aftermath...Patterson does a nice job of sketching the broad outlines and placing developments in a larger context"--The Journal of Southern History