The TJ Reddick Bar Association proudly presents the “From Brown to Broward” exhibit, a poignant tribute to the groundbreaking legal work of the late Attorney W. George Allen. As the first African American graduate of the University of Florida College of Law in 1962, Attorney Allen blazed a trail that significantly impacted the landscape of education and civil rights. Attorney W. George Allen earned his bachelor’s degree from Florida A&M University, in Tallahassee, Florida.
Join us for the grand opening of the Community Exhibit on February 16, 2024, at 6 p.m., and experience the exhibit firsthand at the Old Dillard Museum, 1009 NW 4th St, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311, available throughout February 2024. RSVP now at treddickbar.com/events to secure your spot.
Attorney Allen’s legacy unfolds through a historic legal lens, starting in 1963 when he relocated his family from Miami to Fort Lauderdale and brought the fight for civil rights, diversity, and dignity to Broward County. Attorney Allen was a legal trailblazer with a remarkable 50-year legal career.
Faced with racial barriers when enrolling his sons, Frederick and Timothy, at Northside Elementary School, he courageously filed a school desegregation suit against the Board of Public Instruction and the School Superintendent of Broward County. This landmark case, initiated on January 9, 1970, sought to eliminate the dual system of segregated public schools, marking a crucial step towards equality. Attorney Allen filed the lawsuit resulting in the desegregation of Broward County public schools, assuring that all students in the county would have “equal access” to educational opportunities.
Sponsored by the Community Foundation of Broward (CFB) and the CFB Allen Family Community Impact and Scholarship Fund. This exhibit is a testament to Attorney W. George Allen’s unwavering commitment to civil rights and equal justice for all. Don’t miss this opportunity to witness history and commemorate the strides made in the pursuit of equality in Broward County.
For more information and to register for this impactful event, visit treddickbar.com. Let’s come together to honor the legacy of a legal pioneer who made history and left an indelible mark on our community.
Historical Highlights:
-In 1963, Attorney W. George Allen relocated his family to Fort Lauderdale. When registering his sons, Frederick and Timothy Allen, at Northside Elementary School, he challenged racial categorization, asserting that his sons’ race was irrelevant.
-Frederick and Timothy became the first Black students enrolled at Northside Elementary, initiating a pivotal desegregation suit against the Broward County School Board in 1970.
-The lawsuit, filed on January 9, 1970, alleged a violation of the Fourteenth Amendment’s equal protection clause, urging an end to the dual system of racially segregated public schools.
-The legal proceedings commenced with a hearing on January 16, 1970, as the plaintiffs sought to dismantle the segregated school system and establish an integrated system.
