This article provides historical and legal context and resources for readers (and in many cases their students) about the threshold period when this country changed from a legally segregated society to one of greater freedom. The body of the article provides background for "Brown" and related stories, a primer on the structure of the legal system, and significant legal progress toward and distinctions between the two U.S. Supreme Court decisions that comprise what has come to be know as "Brown". Appendices are comprised of significant legal documents, including the complete decisions, a glossary of terms used throughout this issue, and an annotated bibliography of selected titles. It is the hope that by providing a thorough background in these various areas, readers will become sufficiently informed to fully appreciate the other articles in this special issue.