Americans’ collective memory of school desegregation involves crowds of screaming white protesters. But less well known are the whites who stood by quietly, and those who approved of the changes.
While the Brown vs. Board of Education case is often celebrated for ordering school desegregation, history shows many black people in the city where the case began opposed integrated schools.
Public schools were originally envisioned in the 19th century as ‘common schools’ where rich and poor kids could be educated together. MLK wanted the same thing – but it’s not happening.
Some communities are seeking to secede from larger school districts to form their own school districts in the name of ‘local control.’ But court rulings find race is often at play.