Brown v. Board

This year, we've been sharing stories about growing up in Topeka, in the shadow of segregation. As part of the 60th anniversary of "Brown versus the Topeka Board of Education," the Kansas Humanities Council sponsored a StoryCorps project last year. Today, we listen in as Sherman Smith interviews his friend and former co-worker Michael Hooper, who says discrimination still exists in Topeka.

Since early February, we've been sharing stories about growing up in Topeka, in the shadow of segregation. As part of the 60th anniversary of "Brown versus the Topeka Board of Education," the Kansas Humanities Council sponsored a local StoryCorps project last year. Today, we hear ...

Since early February, we've been sharing stories about growing up in Topeka, in the shadow of segregation. As part of the 60th anniversary of "Brown versus the Topeka Board of Education," the Kansas Humanities Council sponsored a local StoryCorps project last year, to record the memories of area residents. Today, we hear from former Topeka Mayor Bill Bunten as he talks to his friend Jack Alexander, a former Topeka city councilman.

Tobias Schlingensiepen tells a story about selling a house in a predominantly white Topeka neighborhood.

Last year was the 60th anniversary of "Brown v. Board," the Supreme Court ruling that led to school desegregation. To mark the anniversary, area residents were interviewed about growing up in Topeka, the town so closely associated with the case. Today, we hear from Tom Averill and Matthew Porubsky about how integration came to a local cemetery.

Last year (2014) marked the 60th anniversary of the historic decision in "Brown versus the Topeka Board of Education." The Supreme Court ruling led to desegregated schools and, eventually, to a more integrated society in general. To celebrate the anniversary, the Kansas Humanities Council joined with NPR's StoryCorps project to interview area residents about growing up in the town whose name became part of the landmark case. In this third installment of our series, we hear from two, lifelong friends. Jack Alexander and Darlene Wilson-Jackson both attended segregated elementary schools but went to integrated junior and senior high schools.

Topeka resident, Dr. Beryl New, is interviewed by her granddaughter, Dajaia James, about growing up in the shadow of segregation. The two took part in a StoryCorps project last year, marking the 60th anniversary of the Brown v. Board Supreme Court decision.

Regional headlines from the Associated Press.

Regional headlines from the Associated Press.