Present Status of Integration in the Public Schools of Missouri

Abstract

Geographically, Missouri lies almost at the hub of our country-East to West and North to South. Frequently it has been referred to as being neither North nor South, for customs and traditions of each have permeated the thinking of its citizenry. For other purposes, the Mississippi River which skirts its Eastern border, has served as the dividing line between East and West. Patterns in the state have been influenced, in part, by the mores and traditions found in the bordering states Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. Missouri had national attention focused on it when admission to the Union was sought. It had been claimed that the North won most of the Louisiant Territory, and only Missouri, Arkansas and Louisiana could become slave-holding states. In 1820 the Missouri Compromise gave legislative approval to its admission as a slave-holding state. It resulted in the establishment of the historical line beyond which slavery would not be tolerated, namely, 36 degrees and 30 minutes north latitude. Missouri has been the location of decisions through the years which have involved local and state courts, and the Supreme Court. More significant among these have been: 1. Dred Scott Decision in 1857 involving a Missouri Supreme Court decision declaring Scott had become free by reason of his residence in free territory and a reversal by the United States Supreme Court declaring slaves chattels. 2. Lloyd Gaines case,' was filed in 1936 in Boone County to compel admission to University of Missouri School of Law. Missouri Supreme Court ruled in 1937 that the availability of scholarships for Negroes to attend non-segregated schools in other states was sufficient. The United States Supreme Court ruled in 1938 that Equal Facilities must be provided within state boundaries. The Missouri Supreme Court in 1939 accepted the decision of the United States high tribunal and ordered the University of Missouri to comply by admitting Lloyd Gaines. This case was signed for the plaintiff by Sidney R. Redmond as chief counsel. While the Gaines Case held national significance in the abolition of segregation for higher education, because of racial identity, the mandate of the Court was not carried out because of the disappearance of the plaintiff. Thus Missouri failed to claim a first in actually admitting a Negro to a professional school. St. Louis has had through the years, liberal-minded citizens whose sympathy was given willingly to assist minority groups and the less fortunate. This was