Assignment:
Racial Discrimination
Racial discrimination has had a long history in the United States. Public opinion and Supreme Court decisions about racial discrimination have evolved over time. From Dred Scott v. Stanford and Korematsu v. United States to Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas, there has been a long line of Supreme Court cases driven by racial discrimination. There have been triumphs as well as downfalls on the part of the U.S. government in regards to upholding the Constitutional right of equal justice to all citizens. The cases mentioned above represent this evolution from the worst to the best of U.S. judicial decisions. Over time, the Supreme Court stood by its position to uphold the Constitution and learned from its mistakes. As a direct result, its decisions have evolved.
To prepare for this assignment:
- Peruse the chapter entitled “Civil Rights and Equal Protection” in the course text, Landmark Supreme Court Cases: The Most Influential Decisions of the Supreme Court of the United States. Pay particular attention to Supreme Court decisions regarding racial discrimination.
- Review the Supreme court cases Dred Scott v. Stanford, Korematsu v. United States, and Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas in the LexisNexis Academic database. Reflect on the differences among the final decision in each of these cases. Consider the impact of each of these decisions on public policy at the federal, state, and local levels.
- Reflect on how and why Supreme Court decisions regarding racial discrimination have evolved.
- Think about contemporary federal, state, and/or local policies that were influenced by the evolution of Supreme Court decisions regarding racial discrimination.
The assignment: (1 to 2 pages)
- Explain how and why Supreme Court decisions regarding racial discrimination have evolved. Be specific and use examples to illustrate your explanation.
- Explain how the evolution of Supreme Court decisions regarding racial discrimination has influenced contemporary federal, state, and/or local public policies. Again, be specific and use examples to illustrate your explanation.