America made a promise to integrate its schools. Here's what transpired instead.
Once upon a time, people were hoping for a different future. In 1954, on May 17, the Supreme Court handed down the Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka decision, declaring that "separate but equal" segregation in US schools was unconstitutional. This marked a significant turning point in race relations, leading to more victories for the Civil Rights movement like the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act.
However, it took some time for the benefits of desegregation to fully manifest. As a student in the 1970s and early 1980s in Louisiana's bayou, I witnessed integration in action - Black and White children attending the same schools, but not interacting much outside of the classroom. White students even had their prom at the local country club, while the Black ones celebrated at the school gym.
Fortunately, my nine-year-old son's school is now more diverse than mine was, and he has diverse friends inviting him over on weekends. This makes him one fortunate boy.
Angela Davis, a political activist, says that education is essential for obtaining freedom and justice. I agree. Education can empower a generation of Americans to dismantle systemic racism, understanding that it's not a sprint but a marathon.
To celebrate the 70th anniversary of Brown this week, we're a country celebrating the most diverse student population in history. Half of the children in K-12 public schools are Black or brown. Despite these gains, though, we've slipped back from full integration.
A recent Stanford and University of Southern California report revealed that racial and economic segregation had greatly increased in large school districts over the last 30 years. Causes include legal decisions allowing districts previously under desegregation orders to be released from oversight and policies promoting school choice.
Now, Black, Hispanic, and Pacific Islander children are more likely to attend schools where three-quarters of their classmates are also children of color, often having easy access to free or reduced-price lunch (FRPL), a key sign of poverty. These underfunded schools usually have worse outcomes. Meanwhile, half of White students are educated in predominantly White schools with mostly privileged peers.
This isn't just about academic inequality. Keeping students in racially and economically isolated schools is hampering our society's ability to capitalize on diversity. Integration boosts achievement for all students, cultivates positive relationships between ethnicities, and promotes empathy.
Schools with high poverty and ethnic minority enrollment suffer because of lack of resources and opportunities, and students become trapped in a cycle of disparities. In contrast, being in majority-White, affluent schools with better funding and prospects leads to higher achievements. But this leaves many children, regardless of race or income, underprepared for our multifaceted society.
An education system that's truly integrated is essential for readying all children to thrive in our diverse democracy. Without it, we're robbing ourselves of the opportunity for better democracy. Research shows that integration improves achievements across the board, breaks down stereotypes, and promotes empathy - crucial for maintaining a liberal society and a sound democratic system.
We must persuade schools and state and federal leaders to promote integration actively. This may involve redistributed resources, different school choice policies, better public transport, or rearranged school boundaries. It also means training school leaders to cultivate inclusive environments, as Beverly Daniel Tatum suggests in "Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?"
If you believe in equality, join the campaign for integrated education. It's crucial to break down the walls that hinder our ability to tap into the full potential of our diverse population.
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For integration of education to occur in various areas, the desegregation of entire neighborhoods is necessary to create diverse communities that reflect their local schools. While inclusive housing policies are crucial, they cannot achieve the necessary scale of change without a corresponding shift in societal attitudes. We need to persuade every parent that a child whose education takes place in a racially or economically isolated classroom and then resides in a racially or economically isolated neighborhood is being short-changed.
Unfortunately, we can't fully depend on the current US Supreme Court, which has recently dismantled reproductive rights for women and eliminated affirmative action in college admissions. However, for the future of all our children, maybe we can finally attain the potential for a fairer America, as depicted in the Brown v. Board of Education ruling.
It's better to be seven decades late than never achieve this goal.
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In the discussion about integrated education, Angela Davis emphasizes its role in fostering freedom and justice, echoing the sentiment that education can empower future generations to dismantle systemic racism. Despite the progress made in school diversity, recent reports indicate that racial and economic segregation has increased in many school districts, hindering our society's ability to capitalize on its diversity.
The ongoing debate around integrated education highlights the importance of considering different policies and initiatives, such as redistributing resources, rethinking school choice policies, or promoting inclusive school environments. As society, we must recognize the significant potential benefits that integration brings, including improved academic achievements, reduced stereotypes, and cultivated empathy, all crucial for a healthy democratic system.
Source: edition.cnn.com
