‘Separate But Equal’ Film Re-Release | Brown v. Board of Education 70th Anniversary

On May 17th, 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court made one of the most significant legal decisions of the 20th century when the justices unanimously ruled that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. The decision in Brown v. Board of Education was a major victory for the civil rights movement and dramatically altered American society.

To commemorate the 70th anniversary of that landmark decision, Paramount Home Entertainment will re-release writer/director George Stevens, Jr.’s Emmy Award-winning masterpiece “Separate But Equal” on DVD on May 7th. Starring Academy Award winners Sidney Poitier and Burt Lancaster, and featuring performances by Oscar nominee Jeffrey Wright and Emmy winners Richard Kiley and Cleavon Little, this powerful miniseries premiered in April of 1991 and received widespread critical acclaim.

A magnificent and exhilarating dramatization of a critical turning point in the nation’s history, “Separate But Equal” is a phenomenal achievement and one of the greatest courtroom dramas ever made.

It began in small-town South Carolina and blossomed into the most important judicial decision of the 20th century. At its heart lies an incredible tale of national policy created by a cunning lawyer, powerful back-room deals, and the desire of a small boy to live the American Dream.

In addition to the feature presentation, the DVD includes the 1954 CBS News Special “See It Now: A Study of Two Cities” hosted by Edward R. Murrow.

In 2019, UB spoke to Robert Townsend, and asked who inspired him? “That would be Sidney Poitier! When I was a kid, I didn’t see that many images of people of color on television. I remember seeing a lot of the shucking and jiving and you know stereotypical roles. The first person I saw on television, that had dignity was Sidney Poitier.” Mr. Townsend went on to say; “when I became an adult and became famous. I called him right away. He educated me and I asked him, how did you get to have dignity in the 50s? When so many people of color had their head down? He said, the power to say no. He said I didn’t except everything that came along. I turned down, more than I excepted. That’s kind of been my mantra since I met him. So he’s my hero.”