Question

We cannot find substantial equality in the educational opportunities offered white and Negro law students by the State. In terms of number of the faculty, variety of courses and opportunity for specialization, size of the student body, scope of the library, availability of law review and similar activities, the University of Texas Law School is superior… . It is difficult to believe that one who had a free choice between these law schools would consider the question close.

—Sweatt v. Painter
1950

Read the Supreme Court’s ruling to the left. What does it suggest about Texas’s African American and white law schools?

Separate facilities for African Americans and whites can be equal.

Separate facilities for African Americans and whites may be unequal in quality.

Separate facilities are alright as long as there is a common library.

Answer 1

Separate facilities for African Americans and whites may be unequal in quality.

The Court says the University of Texas Law School (for whites) was clearly superior in faculty, courses, library, activities, etc., so the separate African American law school did not provide equal educational opportunities.