McKinley Burnett facts for kids
McKinley Burnett (born January 9, 1897 – died July 24, 1968) was a very important leader. He helped change schools in the United States. He was the President of the Topeka branch of the NAACP. This group works for equal rights for all people. Burnett helped start the famous Brown v. Board of Education court case. He found 13 families in Topeka who wanted to fight for equal schools.
McKinley Burnett's Early Life
McKinley Langford Burnett was born in Oskaloosa, Kansas in 1897. As he grew up, he saw and felt a lot of unfair treatment. In school, he faced limits on what he could do. In the Army, he was treated unfairly because of his race.
Even as a supply clerk for the Veterans Administration, he faced many challenges. He wanted to make things better. He wanted to end unfair treatment against African Americans.
In 1948, Burnett became the President of the Topeka NAACP chapter. The NAACP is a group that works for civil rights. His main goal was to end segregation in public schools in Topeka, Kansas. Segregation meant that Black and white students went to separate schools.
For two years, he held meetings and wrote letters. He tried to convince the school board to let all students go to the same schools. But the school board kept saying no.
The Fight for Equal Schools: Brown v. Board
In 1950, McKinley Burnett decided to take a bigger step. He told the school board that if they did not end segregation, he and the NAACP would go to court. The school board did not take his warning seriously. So, the NAACP took the Topeka school board to court.
Burnett personally asked thirteen African American families for help. These families tried to enroll their children in Topeka's all-white schools. This happened in the fall of 1950. All 20 children were not allowed to join these schools.
In February 1951, the NAACP officially filed a lawsuit. This was not the first time people tried to end segregation in Kansas. There had been eleven attempts before this one.
Three years after the lawsuit began, the Supreme Court looked at the case. The case was called Brown v. Board of Education. McKinley Burnett was there for all the important hearings and talks.
Chief Justice Earl Warren announced the Supreme Court's decision. He said, "We conclude that in the field of public education the doctrine of 'separate but equal' has no place. Separate educational facilities are inherently unequal." This meant that separate schools for different races were not fair or equal.
McKinley Burnett was very happy about the decision. He was quoted saying, "I say, 'thank God for the Supreme Court.'"
McKinley Burnett's Legacy
McKinley Burnett continued to be the president of the NAACP chapter until 1963. He passed away in 1968.
On October 4, 2001, the Topeka Public Schools Administrative Center was renamed in his honor. This building now stands as a reminder of his leadership. His work helped start the school desegregation case. Many people believe this case helped begin the civil rights movement in the late 20th century.
