“Overturn Bakke Decision / Fight Racism” Pinback Buttons (Pair)
American, 1978 — Each 2 in.
 
A pair of bold graphic pinback buttons issued in response to the Supreme Court’s decision in Regents of the University of California v. Bakke (1978). One example features a raised-fist protest motif with the slogan “Say No to Racism / Overturn Bakke,” while the other announces a “March on Washington, April 15!” calling for organized demonstration against the ruling. Produced in the immediate aftermath of the decision, the buttons reflect grassroots activism surrounding affirmative action and civil rights policy in the late twentieth century.
 
Ephemeral objects from this moment of national debate are comparatively scarce, particularly in such striking visual form. Together, the pair offers a concise record of protest culture responding to one of the most consequential legal decisions on race and education in modern American history.
 
Condition: Excellent.