Rosenwald Schools Educated African Americans in the South
May 17, 2024, is the 70th anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision that ended the system of racially segregated schools in the United States. To commemorate this important achievement for equality and civil rights, btw takes a look at the history of the Rosenwald Schools. In the early 1900s, a […]
The Life of Sandra Day O’Connor
Sandra Day O’Connor, who made history as the first woman to serve as a U.S. Supreme Court justice, died on December 1, 2023. She was 93 years old. O’Connor’s Professional Beginnings Before she became a Supreme Court justice, Sandra Day grew up on a 250-square-mile cattle ranch on the border of Arizona and New Mexico. […]
Supreme Court Eliminates Race as College Admissions Consideration
In two important decisions issued on June 29, 2023, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that the use of race-conscious admissions at Harvard and the University of North Carolina (UNC) are unconstitutional. These rulings have effectively ended the practice of affirmative action in college admissions. Affirmative action is a policy that considers race […]
President Biden Signs Respect for Marriage Act
On December 13, 2022, President Biden signed the Respect for Marriage Act, a bipartisan bill that protects same-sex and interracial marriages at the federal level. Thousands attended the signing celebration on the South Lawn of the White House. Here, btw takes a closer look at the Respect for Marriage Act, its impact, and its legal […]
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Judge Jackson Confirmed to Supreme Court On April 7, 2022, the Senate voted to confirm Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the U.S. Supreme Court. Three Republicans and all of the Senate Democrats voted to accept Jackson’s appointment. The announcement of her confirmation was met with applause in the Senate chamber. Judge Jackson is the first […]
Women’s History Month: Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson
On February 25, 2022, President Joe Biden announced that he was nominating Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the U.S. Supreme Court to replace Justice Stephen Breyer, who is retiring. If the nomination is approved by the Senate, Judge Brown Jackson will be the first African American woman to serve on the nation’s highest court. Who […]
YOU DECIDE: School Social Media Free Speech Case
As a student, what are you allowed to say–and not allowed to say–on social media? That’s the question at the heart of a recent Supreme Court ruling. A high school student from Pennsylvania is at the center of the case. She posted her frustration on Snapchat after not making the varsity cheerleading team. Here, btw […]
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A Pilgrimage in a Pandemic The Hajj is a pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia that every adult able-bodied Muslim is expected to complete at least once in his or her lifetime. The Hajj journey lasts five days and follows the ancient path of the Muslim Prophet Muhammad to various locations around […]
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Barrett Confirmed to Supreme Court Last week, just days before the presidential election, the U.S. Senate confirmed Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court. Barrett will replace Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who passed away in September. Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee boycotted the vote to advance Barrett’s nomination to the full Senate in […]
YOU DECIDE: Should Democrats Pursue a “Court-Packing” Strategy?
The death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in September left a vacancy on the Supreme Court. Within days, President Trump nominated a new justice: Judge Amy Coney Barrett. The Senate confirmed Judge Barrett’s on October 26. The Court now has a 6 to 3 majority of justices appointed by Republican presidents, leading many […]