On January 26, 1940, Oaland Graham, Jr., a twelve-year-old Black boy, finished the sixth grade at Buchanan Elementary School. Three days later, he tried to enroll in the seventh grade at Boswell Junior High School. He was denied admission by the principal and by the Topeka Board of Education because of his race. Oaland’s father sued the Board in the Kansas Supreme Court. At the time, white children were provided with the 6-3-3 system of education (six years of elementary, three years of junior high, and three years of senior high.) Black children were provided with an 8-1-3 plan. This meant that Black children could not enter the city’s integrated junior high schools until the 9th grade, while white students could enter in 7th grade. Thus, white students were able to take advantage of the junior high schools’ advanced classes and facilities earlier than Black students. The Graham family claimed that the refusal to admit Oaland was a denial of his right to an equal education. The Court decided that school authorities could not provide one system of education to white children and deny it to Black children. The law allowing for the segregation of elementary schools was established in the early 1900s. The legislature could not have anticipated the eventual creation of junior highs. The Court ruled that Oaland had the right to attend the seventh and eighth grades at Boswell. [232 words]