The Long Road from Brown: School Desegregation in Virginia

This program, funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities, was offered in 2015, 2017, and 2021. Any future program, when funded, will be announced through this website and our Facebook page.

Landmarks of American History and Culture Program for School Teachers

This workshop unveils the unknown stories of school desegregation in Virginia and throughout the nation after the U.S. Supreme Court decision Brown v. Board of Education. It highlights the role African Americans played in bringing about Brown, the state’s determined resistance, the processes that led to initial and then token school desegregation, the eventual integration of public education, and the slow decline of school integration in recent decades.

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Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed on this website do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

  • "This was the most valuable professional development of my 15 year teaching career! It has fundamentally altered the way I will teach the Civil Rights Movement."

  • "The workshop was enlightening. I had never known about Virginia's fight against desegregation. I enjoyed meeting with the individuals who participated in the fight for desegregation and listening to their first-hand accounts. I look forward to using these resources in future classes."

  • "Amazing experience! I learned so much and got re-enthused to change my direction in teaching Civil Rights. I can't say enough good things about this experience- well-organized, great sites, great strategies from master teachers, great interaction with directors and speakers."

  • "This was a tremendous week of professional development that has deepened my understanding of 20th century US History. The week has also forced me to refocus on the purpose of public education, teaching and learning. This seminar was easily the best professional development I have ever done."

  • "I truly believe that this seminar was the best experience of my teaching and academic career. Hearing from those who experienced these events and reading primary sources from this time period is invaluable. Listening to the experts and fully immersing myself in this content has been amazing to be a part of. While I do not teach Virginia history, I do teach civil rights and plan on using snapshots such as the Davis and Green cases in my own classroom to further develop my students' conceptual timetable of this era."