Exhibit: Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka

The Struggle and Beyond

The art exhibit celebrates the anniversary and lasting impact of Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, a court decision on May 17, 1954, that ended segregation in public schools.

This exhibit, featuring the works of Richmond, Virginia artist Ed Shelton Jr., presents a series of powerful paintings and archival materials that commemorate the anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (May 17, 1954) and honor both the known and unknown individuals and their connection to the outcome of this landmark decision, which declared segregation in public schools unconstitutional. The exhibit demonstrates that desegregation was driven by ordinary people doing extraordinary things. Figures such as Dred Scott, Benjamin Butler, Homer Plessy, Oliver Otis Howard, Anna Hedgeman, and Constance Baker Motley along with others represent the communities, grassroots organizers, and civil rights organizations whose collective efforts worked to turn the promise of Brown into reality.

Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka changed the law, but not overnight. Through these paintings, visitors are invited to reflect on the Brown's decision and it's impact on the ongoing journey toward freedom, equality, and the enduring legacy of those who stood for change.

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