mclaurin v oklahoma summary

In McLaurin v. Oklahoma State Regents, 339 U.S. 637 (1950), the Court entertained an appeal from the judgment of a three-judge District Court upholding an Oklahoma statute providing that Negroes, though admissible to white graduate schools, must get that education on a segregated basis. HW1C~NR It further held that to the extent the Oklahoma statutes denied him admission they were unconstitutional and void. 4039. In a unanimous decision authored by Chief Justice Fred M. Vinson, the Supreme Court reversed the lower courts decision. Create an account to start this course today. Segregating a population also segregates the experiences and voices of that population. trailer <]>> startxref 0 %%EOF 22 0 obj<>stream 87 F. Supp. WebPeriodical U.S. Reports: McLaurin v. Oklahoma State Regents, 339 U.S. 637 (1950). The Act secured the right to vote for minorities in the South. 0000062061 00000 n Supreme Court 339 U.S. 637 70 S.Ct. 0000071186 00000 n We hold that under these circumstances the Fourteenth Amendment precludes differences in treatment by the state based upon race. 455. 24 chapters | [2], Oral argument was held between April 3, 1950, and April 4, 1950. WebCanada, 305 U.S. 337 (1938), and Sipuel v. Board of Regents, 332 U.S. 631 (1948), a statutory three-judge District Court held that the State had a Constitutional duty to 320 lessons. Contractors of America v. Jacksonville, Parents Involved in Community Schools v. Seattle School District No. basing his argument on the Fourteenth Amendment. Accordingly, the high court reversed the decision of the U.S. District Court, requiring the University of Oklahoma to remove the restrictions under which McLaurin was attending the institution. 526 (W.D. 1149 (1950), the African-American plaintiff was a graduate student who claimed he had been denied equal educational opportunities because he was required to sit in special seats or at a special table designated for African-Americans. (1950) 455, 456, 457. In McLaurin v. Oklahoma State Regents, supra, the Court, in requiring that a Negro admitted to a white graduate school be treated like all other students, again resorted to intangible considerations: " his ability to study, to engage in discussions and exchange views with other students, and, in general, to learn his profession.". Possessing a Master's Degree, he applied for admission to the University of Oklahoma in order to pursue studies and courses leading to a Doctorate in Education. WebCanada, 305 U.S. 337 ; Sipuel v. Oklahoma, 332 U.S. 631 ; Sweatt v. Painter, 339 U.S. 629 ; McLaurin v. Oklahoma State Regents, 339 U.S. 637 . To remove these conditions, appellant filed a motion to modify the order and judgment of the District Court. On appeal, the Supreme Court focused on the question of whether officials could treat a student at a state university differently from other students based solely on his race. %PDF-1.4 % They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. 1149 (1950), the petitioner, who was black, was admitted to the state's formerly white only graduate school, but was compelled to sit in a "colored only" row in the classroom, a "colored only" table in the library and a "colored only" table for meals in the cafeteria. We hold that under these circumstances the Fourteenth Amendment precludes differences in treatment by the state based upon race. P. 642. The Supreme Court reasoned that, under the Fourteenth Amendments equal protection clause, state officials had the legal duty to treat the plaintiff in the same manner as students of other races. It may be argued that appellant will be in no better position when these restrictions are removed, for he may still be set apart by his fellow students. Appellant is a Negro citizen of Oklahoma. (1950) McLaurin v. Oklahoma State Regents. McLaurin v. Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, https://www.britannica.com/event/McLaurin-v-Oklahoma-State-Regents, BlackPast - McLaurin v. Oklahoma State Regents, Cornell Law School - Legal Information Institute - McLaurin v. Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. State-imposed restrictions which produce such inequalities cannot be sustained. Thus, our second decision in the Brown case, 349 U.S. 294, which implemented the earlier one, had no application to a case involving a Negro applying for admission to a state law school. [1], The Supreme Court decided unanimously to reverse the decision of the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma. McLaurin opened the door through which other landmark cases that abolished segregation could enter. Al. (1941) 455, 456, 457, which made it a misdemeanor to maintain or operate, teach or attend a school at which both whites and Negroes are enrolled or taught. No. These factors are elemental to robust education. MR. CHIEF JUSTICE VINSON delivered the opinion of the Court. 87 F. Supp. The Supreme Court reversed the decision of the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma.[1][2]. McLaurin (plaintiff) was a Black citizen of Oklahoma. WebIn McLaurin v. Oklahoma State Regents, supra, the Court, in requiring that a Negro admitted to a white graduate school be treated like all other students, again resorted to intangible considerations: ". This appeal followed. The result is that appellant is handicapped in his pursuit of effective graduate instruction. On January 28, 1948, a retired black professor, George McLaurin, applied to the University of Oklahoma to pursue a Doctorate in Education. In McLaurin v. Oklahoma State Regents, (339 U.S. 637, 70 S.Ct. We conclude that the conditions under which this appellant is required to receive his education deprive him of his personal and present right to the equal protection of the laws. Use this button to switch between dark and light mode. Mark Tushnet, Making Civil Rights Law: Thurgood Marshall and the Supreme Court, 19361961 (New York: Oxford University Press, 1994). Their own education and development will necessarily suffer to the extent that his training is unequal to that of his classmates. HWs* 2zjZm,Bk*y"_qc B*>.bjK\Tzk.7EWk9#@3F/]3w=# La\V&om76 BU@*F2Lb DMkLuyY)<8,!os2W 7$'X0AOq k U0k (a) The restrictions imposed upon appellant impair and inhibit his ability to study, to engage in discussions and exchange views with other students, and, in general, to learn his profession. 208, and Sipuel v. Board of Regents, 1948, 332 U.S. 631, 68 S.Ct. (2012.201.B0391.0687, Oklahoma Publishing Company Photography Collection, OHS). Using sweeping language, the Supreme Court acknowledged that, because American society was changing, discrimination based on race had no place in education. 34. Appellants case represents, perhaps, the epitome of that need, for he is attempting to obtain an advanced degree in education, to become, by definition, a leader and trainer of others. A three-judge federal trial court determined that officials in Oklahoma had a constitutional duty to provide the plaintiff with the education he wanted as soon as they offered the same to students of any other race. if(document.getElementsByClassName("reference").length==0) if(document.getElementById('Footnotes')!==null) document.getElementById('Footnotes').parentNode.style.display = 'none'; Communications: Alison Graves Carley Allensworth Abigail Campbell Sarah Groat Erica Shumaker Caitlin Vanden Boom WebMcLaurin v. Oklahoma State Regents is a case that was decided on June 5, 1950, by the United States Supreme Court holding that a state cannot treat a student differently on the In McLaurin, the Supreme Court found that an African-American student should be admitted to a white graduate school, and be treated like other students, because of the importance of his "ability to study, to engage in discussions and exchange views with other students, and in general to learn his profession.". [1], Chief Justice Frederick Vinson, writing for the court, argued that the actions of the University of Oklahoma violated the student's constitutional right to equal protection under the Fourteenth Amendment. Following this decision, the Oklahoma legislature amended these statutes to permit the admission of Negroes to institutions of higher learning attended by white students, in cases where such institutions offered courses not available in the Negro schools. No. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google. Ann. The proceedings below are stated in the opinion. Decided June 5, 1950. The amendment adds the following proviso to each of the sections relating to mixed schools: 'Provided, that the provisions of this Section shall not apply to programs of instruction leading to a particular degree given at State owned or operated colleges or institutions of higher education of this State established for and/or used by the white race, where such programs of instruction leading to a particular degree are not given at colleges or institutions of higher education of this State established for and/or used by the colored race; provided further, that said programs of instruction leading to a particular degree shall be given at such colleges or institutions of higher education upon a segregated basis.' 1149], the Court, in requiring that a Negro admitted to a white graduate school be treated like all other students, again resorted to intangible considerations: his ability to study, to engage in discussions and exchange views with other students, and, in general, to learn his profession. 0000005065 00000 n The result was that he was handicapped in his pursuit of effective graduate instruction. Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) had made segregation a standard practice in much of the American South. 0000071802 00000 n In this case, we are faced with the question whether a state may, after admitting a student to graduate instruction in its state university, afford him different treatment from other students solely because of his race. Appellant's case represents perhaps the epitome of that need, for he is attempting to obtain an advanced degree in education, to become, by definition, a leader and trainer of others. Both students sued, and the U.S. Updates? His application was rejected because state law prohibited black Appellant was thereupon admitted to the University of Oklahoma Graduate School. It is said that the separations imposed by the State in this case are in form merely nominal. AFRICAN AMERICANS, BROOKSVILLE, CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT, ROSCOE DUNJEE, ADA LOIS SIPUEL FISHER, AMOS T. HALL, NAACP, SEGREGATION, UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA. Different treatment of students in public institutions of higher learning solely on the basis of race violates the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. Submit a Correction 848. George McLaurin sued for equal protection under the 14th Amendment. In McLaurin v. Oklahoma State Regents, 339 U.S. 637, 70 S.Ct. George W. McLaurin(2012.201.B0391.0687, Oklahoma Publishing Company Photography Collection, OHS). D G zmS& endstream endobj 28 0 obj<>stream Yes. Xi As a result, much of the South adopted "separate but equal" policies that governed daily life. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. 0000062265 00000 n To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. Click here to contact our editorial staff, and click here to report an error. 1149, it was ruled that a state may not after having admitted a Negro student to graduate instruction in its state university afford him different treatment from other students solely because of his race. WebIn McLaurin v. Oklahoma State Regents, McLaurin argued that the Fourteenth Amendment was being violated by how they were being treated. An Oklahoma law permitted Black WebMcLaurin v. Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education , legal case in which the U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously (90), on June 5, 1950, that racial segregation within the facilities and institutions of colleges and universities is inconsistent Appellant, a Negro citizen of Oklahoma possessing a masters degree, was admitted to the Graduate School of the state-supported University of Oklahoma as a candidate for a doctorate in education and was permitted to use the same classroom, library and cafeteria as white students. In the McLaurin case, the U.S. Supreme Court found that the University of Oklahoma had violated the equal protection clause because the experience needed for a good education could not be accomplished by physically separating McLaurin. McLaurin had to sit at a separate table in classrooms, the library, and the cafeteria. Possessing a Masters Degree, he applied for admission to the University of Oklahoma in order to pursue studies and courses leading to a Doctorate in Education. P. 339 U. S. 642. 0000001037 00000 n Oklahoma State Regents . State-imposed restrictions which produce such inequalities cannot be sustained. of City of Benton Harbor. Such restrictions impair and inhibit his ability to study, to engage in discussions and exchange views with other students, and, in general, to learn his profession. Held: The conditions under which appellant is required to receive his education deprive him of his personal and present right to the equal protection of the laws; and the Fourteenth Amendment precludes such differences in treatment by the State based upon race. Shelley v. Kraemer, 1948, 334 U.S. 1, 13-14, 68 S.Ct. 247, a statutory three-judge District Court held, 87 F.Supp. On the assumption, however, that the State would follow the constitutional mandate, the court refused to grant the injunction, retaining jurisdiction of the cause with full power to issue any necessary and proper orders to secure McLaurin the equal protection of the laws. Since McLauren did not have access to this aspect of his education, he was being denied an equal education to that of his peers. McLaurin v. Oklahoma State Regents is a case that was decided on June 5, 1950, by the United States Supreme Court holding that a state cannot treat a student differently on the basis of race. Those who will come under his guidance and influence must be directly affected by the education he receives. 848. Dist.) On the assumption, however, that the State would follow the constitutional mandate, the court refused to grant the injunction, retaining jurisdiction of the cause with full power to issue any necessary and proper orders to secure McLaurin the equal protection of the laws. Civ. 20072023 Blackpast.org. While McLaurin argued that the University of Oklahoma was violating the equal protection clause under the 14th Amendment, the university argued that they were not violating McLaurin's rights. McLaurin filed an injunction in federal court with the argument that the University of Oklahoma had denied him his rights under the Fourteenth Amendment. The primary purpose of the 14th Amendment was to extend rights and protections found in the Constitution to the states. It is said that the separations imposed by the State in this case are in form merely nominal. For some time, the section of the classroom in which appellant sat was surrounded by a rail on which there was a sign stating, 'Reserved For Colored,' but these have been removed. (b) That appellant may still be set apart by his fellow students and may be in no better position when these restrictions are removed is irrelevant, for there is a constitutional difference between restrictions imposed by the State which prohibit the intellectual commingling of students and the refusal of students to commingle where the State presents no such bar. Copyright to all of these materials is protected under United States and International law. 0000000836 00000 n 20 0 obj <> endobj xref 20 27 0000000016 00000 n Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. 851, 94 L.Ed. Pursuant to a requirement of state law, 70 Okla. Stat. 1161, 3 A.L.R.2d 441. During the time between the students filing of his appeal and the Supreme Courts having conducted oral arguments, university officials modified their treatment of the plaintiff. Upon suit filed by the applicant, the university tried to set up a separate facility for African-American law students. - Discoveries, Timeline & Facts, Presidential Election of 1848: Summary, Candidates & Results, Lord Charles Cornwallis: Facts, Biography & Quotes, Charles Maurice de Talleyrand: Quotes & Biography, Who is Jose de San Martin? 526 (W. D. Okla. 1949). McLaurin appealed to the United States Supreme Court on the basis that he was being denied equal protection under the 14th Amendment. It may be argued that appellant will be in no better position when these restrictions are removed, for he may still be set apart by his fellow students. Make your practice more effective and efficient with Casetexts legal research suite. McLaurin v. Oklahoma State Regents, an important case leading up to the U.S. Supreme Court's 1954 decision in Brown v. Board of Education, struck down the Oklahoma statute that mandated The ruling in McLaurin had major ramifications for both parties and went on to set a new precedent regarding segregation, especially with how it pertained to education. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. However, the court did not issue any injunctive relief as requested by the plaintiff but rather relied "on the assumption that the law having been declared, the State will comply.". BlackPast.org is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and our EIN is 26-1625373. Argued April 3, 4, 1950. McLaurin v. Oklahoma was one of the cases that helped to overturn Plessy v. Ferguson. 1149 *637 **852 Pursuant to a requirement of state law that the instruction of Negroes in institutions of higher education be "upon a segregated basis," however, he was assigned to a seat in the classroom in a row specified for Negro students, was assigned to a special table in the library, and, although permitted to eat in the cafeteria at the same time as other students, was assigned to a special table there. Citing our decisions in State of Missouri ex rel. This precedent would be echoed in the 1954 case Brown v. Board of Education, which ruled that it was unconstitutional to segregate public schools. That court held that such treatment did not violate the provisions of the Fourteenth Amendment and denied the motion. Policy: Christopher Nelson Caitlin Styrsky Molly Byrne Jimmy McAllister Samuel Postell His opinion for the court in 1947 upheld the power of the federal courts to enjoin a strike in coal mines then under control of the federal government. The case McLaurin v. Oklahoma State Regents began when the University of Oklahoma denied George McLaurin into its graduate program because of his race. McLaurin uses the same classroom, library and cafeteria as students of other races; there is no indication that the seats to which he is assigned in these rooms have any disadvantage of location. The Supreme Court noted that the special treatment McLaurin received because of his race set him apart from the other students. Plessy v. Ferguson was a case decided by the Supreme Court in 1896 that said segregation was constitutional as long as the separate facilities provided were of equal standard. Appellant, a Negro citizen of Oklahoma possessing a master's degree, was admitted to the Graduate School of the state supported University of Oklahoma as a candidate for a doctorate in education and was permitted to use the same classroom, library and cafeteria as white students. This appeal followed. We conclude that the conditions under which this appellant is required to receive his education deprive him of his personal and present right to the equal protection of the laws. 455. 208 (1938);, Full title:McLAURIN v . There is a vast differencea Constitutional differencebetween restrictions imposed by the state which prohibit the intellectual commingling of students, and the refusal of individuals to commingle where the state presents no such bar. (c) Having been admitted to a state supported graduate school, appellant must receive the same treatment at the hands of the State as students of other races. The amendment provided, however, that in such cases the program of instruction 'shall be given at such colleges or institutions of higher education upon a segregated basis. In apparent conformity with the amendment, his admission was made subject to 'such rules and regulations as to segregation as the President of the University shall consider to afford Mr. G. W. McLaurin substantially equal educational opportunities as are afforded to other persons seeking the same education in the Graduate College,' a condition which does not appear to have been withdrawn. Marian W. Perry and Franklin H. Williams were also of counsel. The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture, Oklahoma Heritage Preservation Grant Program. Mullane v. Central Hanover Bank & Trust Co. Cleveland Board of Education v. Loudermill, Cruzan v. Director, Missouri Department of Health, Cumming v. Richmond County Board of Education, Davis v. County School Board of Prince Edward County, Griffin v. County School Board of Prince Edward County, Green v. County School Board of New Kent County, United States v. Montgomery County Board of Education, Alexander v. Holmes County Board of Education, Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education. The case concerned a Black student who was treated differently than white students after being admitted to the graduate school at the University of Oklahoma. Appellant is a Negro citizen of Oklahoma. University He is now assigned to a seat in the classroom in a row specified for colored students; he is assigned to a table in the library on the main floor; and he is permitted to eat at the same time in the cafeteria as other students, although here again he is assigned to a special table. 0000062723 00000 n For some time, the section of the classroom in which appellant sat was surrounded by a rail on which there was a sign stating, Reserved For Colored, but these have been removed. A Black individual was admitted to the graduate school at the University of Oklahoma to pursue a doctorate in education. 0000067006 00000 n Copyright to all articles and other content in the online and print versions of The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History is held by the Oklahoma Historical Society (OHS). McLaurin filed suit in federal court in Oklahoma City. Citing our decisions in Missouri ex rel. McLaurin v. Oklahoma State Regents (1950) was a case regarding higher education that was decided by the United States Supreme Court saying that colleges The case was decided on June 5, 1950. Can a state treat a student differently from other students solely because of race? The justices agreed unanimously that since McLaurin was admitted into the University of Oklahoma, denying him access to his peers through segregation was denying him an opportunity to "study, to engage in discussions and exchange views with other students, and, in general, to learn his profession." Appellant filed a complaint requesting injunctive relief, alleging that the action of the school authorities and the statutes upon which their action was based were unconstitutional and deprived him [339 U.S. 637, 639] of the equal protection of the laws. 0000071278 00000 n Their own education and development will necessarily suffer to the extent that his training is unequal to that of his classmates. Our society grows increasingly complex, and our need for trained leaders increases correspondingly. 0000071826 00000 n Citing our decisions in Missouri ex rel. Kenneth has a JD, practiced law for over 10 years, and has taught criminal justice courses as a full-time instructor. We hold that under these circumstances the Fourteenth Amendment precludes differences in treatment by the state based upon race. In this case, we are faced with the question whether a state may, after admitting a student to graduate instruction in its state university, afford him different treatment from other students solely because of his race. McLAURIN v. OKLAHOMA STATE REGENTS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION et al. 0000002024 00000 n WebMcLaurin v. Oklahoma State Regents, 339 U.S. 637 (1950) McLaurin v. Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. WebThe school districts appealed, claiming that the federal courts did not have jurisdiction over education, but the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ultimately upheld McCormicks decision on April 14, 1947, ruling that the schools actions violated California law. On June 5, 1950, the United States Supreme Court ruled that a public institution of higher learning could not provide different treatment to a student solely because of his/her race as doing so deprived the student of his/her Fourteenth Amendment rights of Equal Protection. But at the very least, the state will not be depriving appellant of the opportunity to secure acceptance by his fellow students on his own merits. Out of this came the "separate but equal" policies of the post-Reconstruction South. Gaines v. Canada, 305 U.S. 337 (1938), and Sipuel v. Board of Regents, 332 U.S. 631 (1948), a statutory three-judge District Court held that the State had a Constitutional duty to provide him with the education he sought as soon as it provided that education for applicants of any other group. The court did not believe that it was Constitutional to integrate different races and social classes. his ability to study, to engage in discussions and exchange views with other students, and, in general, to learn his profession." 851, 339 U.S. 637, 94 L.Ed. Hoping to earn a doctorate in education, he applied for admission to graduate study at Oklahoma's all McLaurin won the right to attend the University of Oklahoma without being segregated in any way from his peers. Such restrictions impair and inhibit his ability to study, to engage in discussions and exchange views with other students, and, in general, to learn his profession. 528; 1949 U.S. McLaurin v. Oklahoma State Regents (1950) was a case regarding higher education that was decided by the United States Supreme Court saying that colleges and universities could not segregate students under the Fourteenth Amendment. African American History: Research Guides & Websites, Global African History: Research Guides & Websites, African American Scientists and Technicians of the Manhattan Project, Envoys, Diplomatic Ministers, & Ambassadors, Foundation, Organization, and Corporate Supporters. HM0O0wz,['+hQ#H pt}~es9p~(/W3&5YfqL4Q7F:6[QcsWP\~)gLBsDhjB`9L[{kNu2[/(DSm:o_zX?aEEn^)}UXR}2 wF%. APPEAL FROM THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF OKLAHOMA. The federal court in Oklahoma City also stated that the purpose of the Constitution was not to abolish the differences between races. Argued April 3-4, 1950. To remove these conditions, appellant filed a motion to modify the order and judgment of the District Court. McLaurin v. Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, legal case in which the U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously (90), on June 5, 1950, that racial segregation within the facilities and institutions of colleges and universities is inconsistent with the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The experience needed for a good education could not be accomplished by physically separating McLaurin from his peers, and it disallowed him from working on many types of projects that involved one or more students, as well as participating in a discussion of any kind. In McLaurin v. Oklahoma State Regents, 339 U.S. 637, 640, 70 S.Ct. These restrictions were obviously imposed in order to comply, as nearly as could be, with the statutory requirements of Oklahoma. Such restrictions impaired and inhibited his ability to study, to engage in discussions, exchange views with other students, and, in general, to learn his profession. This would set a precedent for future legal issues about segregation, including the landmark case Brown v. Board of Education a few years later. He was allowed to pursue his doctoral degree at the University of Oklahoma. The court denied McLaurin's petition. 526. For some time, the section of the classroom in which appellant sat was surrounded by a rail on which there was a sign stating, "Reserved For Colored," but these have been removed. McLaurin v. Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, 339 U.S. 637. WebThe University of Oklahoma accepted George McLaurin to its graduate program in education, but separated him from other students. Dist. No part of this site may be construed as in the public domain. 526 (W.D. The removal of the state restrictions will not necessarily abate individual and group predilections, prejudices and choices. In McLaurin v. Oklahoma State Regents [ 339 U.S. 637, 70 S.Ct. However, the facilities and services used by African Americans were not equal to those of white Americans. The result is that appellant is handicapped in his pursuit of effective graduate instruction. Board of Regents v. New Left Education Project, Hart v. Community School Board of Brooklyn, Berry v. School Dist. The judgment is reversed. Appellant is a Negro citizen of Oklahoma. These restrictions were obviously imposed in order to comply, as nearly as could be, with the statutory requirements of Oklahoma.

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