Separate But Equal (1991) | Thurgood Marshall’s Historic Supreme Court Case

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 13:57:25 +0000

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We’re proud to feature Separate But Equal (1991), a powerful two-part television miniseries that dramatizes the landmark Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Education. This film offers an in-depth look at the legal battle that dismantled the “separate but equal” doctrine and paved the way for desegregation in American public schools.

🎬 Feature Presentation: Separate But Equal (1991)

Directed and written by George Stevens Jr., Separate But Equal chronicles the NAACP’s legal challenge against racial segregation in public schools, culminating in the historic 1954 Supreme Court decision. The narrative follows Thurgood Marshall (portrayed by Sidney Poitier) as he leads a team of lawyers in arguing that segregated schools are inherently unequal, violating the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. Opposing him is John W. Davis (played by Burt Lancaster), a seasoned attorney defending the status quo. The film delves into the complexities of the legal arguments, the societal implications, and the personal sacrifices made by those involved.

🎭 Cast & Crew
• Sidney Poitier as Thurgood Marshall
• Burt Lancaster as John W. Davis
• Richard Kiley as Chief Justice Earl Warren
• Cleavon Little as Robert L. Carter
• Gloria Foster as Vivian “Buster” Marshall
• John McMartin as Governor James F. Byrnes
• Graham Beckel as Josiah C. Tulley
• Ed Hall as Reverend J.A. Delaine
• Lynne Thigpen as Ruth Alice Stovall
• Macon McCalman as W.B. Springer
• Randle Mell as Charles L. Black Jr.
• Cheryl Lynn Bruce as Gladys Hampton
• Tommy Hollis as Harry Briggs
• John Rothman as Jack Greenberg
• Damien Leake as Dr. Kenneth Clark
• Mike Nussbaum as Justice Felix Frankfurter
• William Hardy as Justice Tom C. Clark
• William Cain as Judge J. Waties Waring
• Director: George Stevens Jr.
• Writer: George Stevens Jr.
• Original Music Composer: Carl Davis
• Director of Photography: Nicholas D. Knowland
• Editor: John W. Wheeler
• Runtime: 194 minutes
• Language: English
• Country: United States
• Original Network: ABC
• First Aired: April 7, 1991
• Last Aired: April 8, 1991

🏆 Accolades

Separate But Equal received critical acclaim for its compelling storytelling and performances. It was awarded the Outstanding Miniseries Emmy in 1991 and garnered eight Emmy nominations in total, winning two. Additionally, it received three Golden Globe nominations in 1992.

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