The Road to Brown (1989) Online

This documentary, an excellent look into one of the most paramount Supreme Court decisions in American history, explores the events leading up to Brown vs. Board of Education, especially highlighting the work of Charles H. Houston. Houston pulled together a team of competent lawyers, mostly black, and began to challenge segregation in the area that he thought would most ripple out to effect all the other areas of segregation, of which there were a multitude: education. The film highlights Houston's brilliance particularly well. His case is so well crafted, and his research and work so thorough, that it's hard to think of any judges actually disagreeing with him (there were a few, though). With the help of the NAACP, Houston essentially attacked current educational practices where it would hurt the most: educational funding. He fought for the equalization between black and white salaries, of textbooks, and of school buildings. Houston's point all along had been that any school that was separate and segregated according to color was by no means equal. In summary, then, this documentary is particularly helpful in aiding one's understanding of the Brown vs. Board of Education case, the events leading up to Brown, Brown's aftermath, and all the hard work and dedication put in by black and white alike to end what is one of America's darkest periods. It is well put together with a montage of stock video footage from the period, interviews with some of the individuals who helped shape the Brown case, music, and powerful images. If you are looking for a good documentary highlighting the decision to end segregation, then this is definitely the one you should see.

9 stars out of 10.