Educational Media Reviews Online

Many analysts consider Brown v. Board of Education (1954) the most important U.S. Supreme Court ruling in the last half century. The documentary With All Deliberate Speed is an excellent historical overview of the events leading to this landmark decision. Moreover, it raises compelling questions concerning the social and political impact of the Court’s judgment.

The Brown v. Board decision emerges from a long-term effort by the NAACP and its Legal Defense and Educational Fund to overturn the Plessy v. Ferguson doctrine of “Separate but Equal." Combining historical photographs, participant interviews, and scholarly commentary, the documentary explains the three-part strategy activists utilized to overturn Plessy. Emphasizing the legal genius of Charles Hamilton Houston and Thurgood Marshall as well as the provocative social research of Kenneth and Mamie Clark, the film demonstrates the arduous journey that culminated in the Brown v. Board verdict. The remainder of the documentary addresses the current status of public education in the United States, particularly equity, opportunity, and achievement.

With All Deliberate Speed presents a clear and effective progression of the various court rulings that led to Brown v. Board. The film is also multidimensional, showing how these efforts relate to the broader social contexts of war, economic development, and internal migration. Overall, its message is both poignant and lucid, highlighting a crucial aspect of the civil rights movement. It is a timely resource for students and teachers of education, government, and law. The film’s companion web site is also a valuable tool.

Highly recommended for academic and public libraries.