Unveiling forgotten heroes: Historian Donna Rae Pearson presents "The Women of Brown" at Parsons Public Library

PARSONS, Kan. — Monday, February 26th, Historian Donna Rae Pearson unveils "The Women of Brown," a stirring narrative chronicling the extraordinary journeys of twelve African American women who forever altered the course of history as plaintiffs in the landmark 1954 Brown v. Board of Education case at the Parsons Public Library.

"This year is the 70th anniversary of the decision, so there's a lot of conversation going on about the case right now, but historically, there's never been a lot of conversation about the women themselves," said Pearson. "These are twelve African American women who signed their names, and they literally changed history."

Pearson sheds light on their overlooked contributions, urging others to recognize their pivotal role in the Civil Rights Movement.

"Because they are women and because they are African American, they were not asked the same kind of questions that the men were asked. They were not the civil rights lawyers standing in front of the judges. They were just twelve ordinary women who did something extraordinary," said Pearson.

"The Women of Brown" is part of Humanities Kansas' Speakers Bureau, and the initiative is aimed at fostering civic engagement statewide.

Pearson holds a master's degree in history from Wichita State University and is a museum specialist at the Kansas Historical Society.

Her quest for knowledge led her to delve into the Brown v. Board case, where she uncovered the forgotten stories of the women who stood alongside Oliver Brown, paving the way for generations to come.

"I hope that people will hear a presentation like this and think 'such and such' does this in my community and maybe they should be documented for their contributions," said Pearson.

Pearson will be looking to put files together along with her team of researchers documenting their background and legacy.

You can watch one of Pearson's discussions around "The Women of Brown" below:

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