Brown vs. BOE – The Sandbox

1896

Plessy vs. Ferguson: 1896
Throughout history, primarily down south after the rise of slavery, there were race issues between blacks and whites. This all came to a head in 1896, the ruling of Plessy vs. Ferguson, in which segregation was ruled to be "separate but equal". This event fueled the further racism issues to rise.

Richard Crooks born: 28.06.1900[caption id="attachment_1796" align="alignleft" width="195"] Trnton-born Crooks performed at the Metropolitan Opera.[/caption]
Blogger Edmund St. Austeil argued that Trenton native Richard Crooks deserves far more recognition as a great operatic tenor than he has received from critics and scholars.

Hedgepeth-Williams Case: 1944
Racism continues to tense up, as school districts and issues such as redlining increase. Two mothers, Gladys Hedgepeth and Berline Williams, fight for their children to be able to attend a white school closer to their homes. This acts as a precursor to the famous Brown vs. BOE.

Brown vs. BOE: 1954
This supreme court case in 1954 occurred in Topeka, Kansas in which the segregation of schools, specifically, was debated. declared state laws to establish the separation of public schools for blacks and whites, an "inciting incident" to the desegregation of many public and social institutions, such as the Hedgepeth Williams case occurring ten years later.

Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles are formed: 1962
in 1962, Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles are formed. Included Patti LaBelle, Nona Hendryx, and Sarah Dash. They were very popular throughout the 60s and into the 70s.

The Creation of the Bluebelles: 1962
in 1962 the Bluebelles were formed by Nona Hendryx, Sarah Dash, Cindy Birdsong, and Patricia Holte

Progression from 1958-1966: 1963
Throughout these harsh and confusing times of prejudice and racism, people found their way through music and other forms of expression. For instance, "Girl Groups" formed from the years of 1958-1966. Although the girls began to express themselves, they also felt like "toys" and a lack of expression.

The transition from jazz to funk occurs, which is seen when Tommy Passarella and Tommy Grice begin their music careers. Music, to them and to many others, is seen as a passion and a savior, saving many from crime and such in Trenton, New Jersey.

Continued Tension: 1968
Tension rises in the 1950s and continually increases in the 1960s and 70s with riots and hatred.

Tony Camillo Arranges Grammy Winning Song: 1973
In 1973, Tony Camillo worked as an arranger and producer for the Gladys Knight and the Pips hit song "Midnight Train to Georgia." The song went on to win a Grammy in 1974.

Instant Funk Emerges: 1975
During the 1970s and 1980s, Instant Funk, a band centered on funk and R&B/natural feel music forms at Trenton Junior High School in Trenton, New Jersey. The group began to form in the 1960s and during the 70s and 80s has its break!

The Bluebelles Split: 1976
In 1976, the famous all-female group the Bluebelles, consisting of Sarah Dash, Nona Hendryx and Patti Labelle, split after many discrepancies about performing.

Sarah Dash Releases Solo Album: 1978
In 1978, Sarah Dash releases her self-titled solo album.

Musical Transitions: 1980
From the 197os to 1980s, mainstream social protests decreased and counter-protest movements occurred through funk music, creating the social control movement. The mid 1970s appears to be known as the disco era. During this time, funk mirrors the transition of America to the Jim Crow Laws from the stretch of the 1890s to the 1960s to the 1970s of equality. There was also a backlash against disco in 1979 that promoted new music and new feelings for musicians. This ultimately produces frustration for many.

Music in Education: 1986
Tensions still appeared in 1986 in Trenton, New Jersey, even in the school system. In 1986, Judith Szybist, a teacher at an urban education school and noticed the racial tension, although not as dominant among the students. The black population in the school was high and the students took an interest in those physically different than them but still respected each other. Szybist notes that music connected them and acted as a barrier in race.

Ernie White Christmas Show raises over $14,000 for Hurricane Sandy relief: 21.12.2011

Today: 2015
Today in Trenton, New Jersey, the people and city are still driven by music. This is seen in Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, or TASK, in which music helps those of low income and music pervades people of all types.