H*5174 Resolution, By Harvin
 A HOUSE RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE EFFORTS OF THE LATE LEVI AND HAMMITT
 PEARSON OF CLARENDON COUNTY WHOSE COURAGEOUS AND UNSELFISH EFFORTS TO PROVIDE
 A QUALITY EDUCATION FOR THEIR CHILDREN AND ALL THE CHILDREN IN CLARENDON
 COUNTY CULMINATED IN THE FILING OF BRIGGS VS. ELLIOTT ON MAY 16, 1950, ONE OF
 FOUR LAWSUITS THAT LED TO THE LANDMARK UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT DECISION IN
 1954 WHICH STRUCK DOWN THE DOCTRINE OF "SEPARATE BUT EQUAL" IN OUR NATION'S
 PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.

   06/20/00  House  Introduced and adopted HJ-15

RECOGNIZING THE EFFORTS OF THE LATE LEVI AND HAMMITT PEARSON OF CLARENDON COUNTY WHOSE COURAGEOUS AND UNSELFISH EFFORTS TO PROVIDE A QUALITY EDUCATION FOR THEIR CHILDREN AND ALL THE CHILDREN IN CLARENDON COUNTY CULMINATED IN THE FILING OF BRIGGS VS. ELLIOTT ON MAY 16, 1950, ONE OF FOUR LAWSUITS THAT LED TO THE LANDMARK UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT DECISION IN 1954 WHICH STRUCK DOWN THE DOCTRINE OF "SEPARATE BUT EQUAL" IN OUR NATION'S PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.

Whereas, Levi and Hammitt Pearson were both farmers in Clarendon County in the 1940's and 1950's who were subjected to the harsh conditions imposed upon them by a segregated society; and

Whereas, both men were members of a group of courageous citizens who dedicated themselves toward building better lives for their families and their community by being a part of the first of the legal challenges that attacked racial segregation in the public schools in our State and nation; and

Whereas, although Levi Pearson's request for the Clarendon County School Board to provide school bus transportation for his children was dismissed by a federal judge on a technicality in the case of Pearson vs. County Board of Education, this setback led to the filing of the case of Briggs vs. Elliott on May 16, 1950; and

Whereas, the Briggs vs. Elliott case was combined with three similar lawsuits from other parts of the United States that were eventually heard by the United States Supreme Court and resulted in the landmark decision known by the title of Brown vs. Board of Education (of Topeka, Kansas) in 1954, which struck down the doctrine of "separate but equal" in public education and paved the way for the integration of public schools throughout this nation; and

Whereas, it is fitting and proper for the members of the House of Representatives to pause in their deliberations and recognize both Levi and Hammitt Pearson for their efforts to provide an equal and quality education for all school children in this State. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the House of Representatives of the State of South Carolina, by this resolution, recognize the efforts of the late Levi and Hammitt Pearson of Clarendon County whose courageous and unselfish efforts to provide a quality education for their children and all children in Clarendon County culminated in the filing of Briggs vs. Elliott on May 16, 1950, one of the four lawsuits that led to the landmark United States Supreme Court decision Brown vs. Board of Education (of Topeka, Kansas) in 1954, which struck down the doctrine of "separate but equal" in our nation's public schools.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Mr. and Mrs. Ferdinand Pearson, Mrs. Grace Waters, and other distinguished members of the Pearson family.