Story Corps

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.