'Celebrate each other in the journey': Topekans mark Brown v. Board anniversary with videos

Keishera Lately, Topeka Capital-Journal
Updated ·3 min read
A video of Larry Cushinberry's interview talking about his experiences in Topeka during and after the Brown v. Board Supreme Court case plays as Dale Cushinberry, bottom middle, discusses his own experiences. The event at the National Historic Site included a release of a collection of 32 desegregation-era student videos.
A video of Larry Cushinberry's interview talking about his experiences in Topeka during and after the Brown v. Board Supreme Court case plays as Dale Cushinberry, bottom middle, discusses his own experiences. The event at the National Historic Site included a release of a collection of 32 desegregation-era student videos.

History is often remembered and lived on through the stories told of those who experience it.

On Wednesday in 1954, the Supreme Court issued its landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision, which banned racial segregation in public schools in 1954.

In celebration of the 69th anniversary of the court decision, the Brown v. Board Sumner Legacy Trust and the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library on Wednesday announced the release of a collection of 32 desegregation-era student videos.

The series of videos include Beryl New, Ann Garvin, Dale Cushinberry, Larry Cushinberry, Pamela Johnson Betts, Alice Lee, Eric Napue, Norma Avery and Robert West.

The nine participants — all of whom are native Topekans — provide accounts of their experience before, during and after the landmark decision. They share stories about social life, change, life since Brown v. Board, growing up in Topeka and more.

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Having the videos creates a 'gem' in history

From left, Marty Patterson, Sherri Camp and Karen Hiller on Wednesday lead a discussion about the release of video interviews covering desegregation in Topeka following the Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court Case.
From left, Marty Patterson, Sherri Camp and Karen Hiller on Wednesday lead a discussion about the release of video interviews covering desegregation in Topeka following the Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court Case.

Karen Hiller, Topeka city councilwoman and chair for Sumner Legacy Trust, said bringing together the nine participants helps increase recognition of the untold stories.

"Today is the 69th anniversary of the case, so we're kicking off a year's worth of what we all hope — and you could hear it in the room today — of continually growing recognition of their story and where we can go," Hiller said.

The 32 videos can be found on Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library's Youtube page.

Alice Lee, left, smiles with Norma Avery after a special event Wednesday commemorating the 69th anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court case at the National Historic Site.
Alice Lee, left, smiles with Norma Avery after a special event Wednesday commemorating the 69th anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court case at the National Historic Site.

Norma Avery said the videos celebrate roots and history.

"When I first told my part of the history, I had never told anyone because I was so ashamed of having to be put back a grade and I didn't know how to tell it," Avery said. "Just tell what you went through and how it shaped you into who you are."

Conversations led to change in the Topeka community

On Wednesday morning, the group gathered to commemorate their videos. New said the project helped her see the progress that has been made.

"When you can get someone in a comfortable situation, have them share things that they haven't thought about in perhaps decades and record it then you have a gem," New said.

Beryl New, Topeka USD 501 director of the equity council and certified personnel, talks about being a lifelong Topekan and the impact the Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court Case had on her life during an event Wednesday at the National Historic Site.
Beryl New, Topeka USD 501 director of the equity council and certified personnel, talks about being a lifelong Topekan and the impact the Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court Case had on her life during an event Wednesday at the National Historic Site.

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Pamela Johnson-Betts, executive director of the Topeka Public Schools Foundation, said each experience brought them to where they are today.

"I am so proud to be a native of Topeka, Kansas," she said. "In that, we are the seat of that landmark decision that changed not just Topeka but the world in general in terms of policies, its statutes and how things have shaken out."

Dale Cushinberry, retired principal of Highland Park High School, said he remembers being told to take his education seriously, but doing so came with the Black community looking out for one another.

"One of the take-aways for me is that we have to generate our own forcefield, our own directions and learn how to celebrate each other in the journey," Cushinberry said.

Keishera Lately is the business reporter for the Topeka Capital-Journal. She can be reached at klately@cjonline.com. Follow her on Twitter @Lately_KT.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Brown v. Board videos tell student stories of desegregation in Topeka