New York Appleseed's 71st Anniversary of Brown vs. Board of Education Statement

5.17.25 at 12:00 PM- It has been 71 years since the Brown v. Board of Education decision declared that separate is inherently unequal- yet deep inequalities persist both nationally and here in New York City. Locally, NYC's current mayoral administration has too often ignored, or worse, reinstated policies that reinforce segregation. Nationally, federal directives have echoed dangerous rhetoric of a troubling era, pre-Brown, when de jure segregation was allowed and outwardly celebrated. Despite these challenges, New York Appleseed will continue to hold strong at the forefront of the school integration movement.

Due in large part to our advocacy efforts, discriminatory admission methods at middle and high schools have been severely diminished or eliminated in their entirety. And yet, there is a dire need not only to sustain current policies, but also to expand intentional programming, practices, and investments that increase real integration, abundance, and inclusion.

With the nation's political climate changing once again and many students no longer feeling safe in schools, it is imperative that the promise of Brown be upheld and sustained. A quality education must not be a highly fought-over scarce resource, but a public good that all students, regardless of their race, language, status, and family-income, deserve.

The fight to dismantle school segregation has been ongoing for decades, and while it is an uphill battle, progress has been made and achieved through community awareness and collective action. NY Appleseed and our partners will continue to stand firm against the challenges posed and advocate for equitable and inclusive futures for New York City's children, like they were promised 71 years ago.