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The Ledger
On this day

May 17th

2 events recorded on The Ledger.

  1. 1954
    Context

    Brown v. Board of Education decided

    The U.S. Supreme Court rules unanimously in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka that racial segregation in public schools is unconstitutional. Thurgood Marshall argues the case for the NAACP Legal Defense Fund.

  2. 1988
    The Rise

    Laserphaco Probe patent granted

    The U.S. Patent Office grants Patricia Bath U.S. Patent 4,744,360 for the Laserphaco Probe. She is the first Black woman physician to hold a medical patent.

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On This Day: 380 entries across the calendar. See the full 400-year timeline →