Sandra Bookman reports on the archive helping future generations learn about the many accomplishments of African-Americans.
They brought the suit against the Plainfield Board of Education after numerous attempts failed to correct the imbalance in education for African American students in Plainfield.
Anna Booker said the books were outdated, the education was inferior, and the children were feeling neglected by their schools.
With the help of the NAACP and its lead litigator Robert Carter, the Bookers sued and won.
The case was decided on June 28, 1965, and changed how the students were placed in schools and how funding was allocated.
It also changed how the boards were chosen.
The Bookers said they had been receiving calls all day from well-wishers and were still in shock. This is amazing, Anna said. We are in shock. It’s such an outstanding tribute to us, and we are blessed that God has given us the strength and the mind to do what you folks say we have done. We don’t take the credit. I think (we are feeling) all the positive emotions you can imagine – it’s exciting. it’s outstanding and we’re just grateful that someone felt that we deserve this kind of honor. We are humbled. Really. We are humbled by it.