Deliberate, But No Speed: How Supreme Court rulings have allowed public schools to remain segregated seventy years after Brown v. Board.

The hosts discuss how desegregation under Brown was hampered in schools by a policy of “all deliberate speed” where the speed was often zero.  In contrast, and despite the fact that in large portions of the nation education is separate and unequal, the Trump administration has begun an “all speed ahead” policy of eliminating decrees which contained desegregation requirements’.

https://www.axios.com/2025/05/02/doj-decades-old-school-desegregation-louisiana

In this episode of Ellis Conversations, co-host Jamil Ellis and his father, retired federal magistrate Judge Ronald Ellis, reflect on the 71st anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education—not just the 1954 decision, but its overlooked 1955 follow-up. They explore the legal and societal impacts of desegregation mandates, the resistance that followed, and how today’s rollback of civil rights enforcement—particularly around school desegregation—echoes familiar patterns.

With real-life stories, including Ruby Bridges and Prince Edward County’s school closures, the conversation traces decades of policy evolution—from Milliken v. Bradley to Roberts Court rulings that undermine systemic remedies for segregation. The episode also offers generational perspectives on optimism, protest, and the need for youth leadership in safeguarding educational equity.

👉 If you’re concerned about the dismantling of civil rights protections in education and policing—or wondering how to equip young people to carry the legacy forward—this one’s for you.

🔗 Relevant Links & References:

• Brown v. Board of Education (1954 & 1955 decisions) https://www.oyez.org/cases/1940-1955/347us483 https://www.oyez.org/cases/1940-1955/349us294

• Milliken v. Bradley (1974) https://www.oyez.org/cases/1973/73-434

• Parents Involved in Community Schools v. Seattle School District No. 1 (2007) https://www.oyez.org/cases/2006/05-908

• Ruby Bridges Foundation https://rubybridges.foundation

• Shelby County v. Holder (2013 Voting Rights Act decision) https://www.oyez.org/cases/2012/12-96

• American Psychological Association – Implicit Bias https://www.apa.org/ed/university/implicit-bias

• The Heritage Foundation’s “Project 2025” (mentioned indirectly) https://www.project2025.org