Chipping Away at 'Brown'

Could this be a major blow to the historic Brown decision in 1954?

The most recent ruling in a litany of 5-4 decisions by the United States Supreme Court struck down voluntary integration in public school districts in Seattle, Wash. and Louisville, Ky., which many believe is a direct assault against the Brown v. Board of Education ruling of 1954 that ended segregated public schools.

The Court's most recent decision has sent shock waves through legal circles across the nation.

"This is obviously an important decision that must be carefully evaluated," said Larry Gibson, professor of law at the University of Maryland. "I have to read the full opinion before I make an assessment," said Gibson who is perhaps the foremost expert on Thurgood Marshall, the man most responsible for the landmark Brown decision.

Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the majority arguing that schools, "failed to provide the necessary support for the proposition that there is no other way than individual racial classifications to avoid racial isolation in their school districts." Some believe Roberts' opinion is indicative of a philosophical strike against the role of diversity in American society as a whole.