continuation of Black History Month: Virginia's Norfolk 17 etched in history,What is massive resistance? In the United States,today's modern massive resistance (resistance,terrorism or reverse discrimination)?

Post date: Feb 27, 2010 3:07:29 PM

"Brown vs The Board of Education of Topeka was the beginning of desegregation in American public shools."

During segregation blacks in the south was not allowed to use the same public facilities as white,it wasn't until 1892 when Homer A Plessy challenged a Louisianan law that required “separate but equal” railroad car for blacks that the constitutionality of the practice of segregation in the United States was challenged. Although,Homer A Plessy do not win his case it built the foundation as well as premises other cases for example Brown vs The Board of Education of Topeka. It was a ruling that would change the American education system and the lives of many young Afro American students living in the United States. For over fifty years ,public schools in the South remained segregated. Unprecedent and controversial, Brown vs. The Board of Education of Topeka was a case in which the Supreme Court in the United States declared racial segregation in American public schools as unconstitional. Over turning the previous landmark case Plessy vs Ferguson , in 1896, that stated “separate but equal” was constitutional,Brown vs The Board of Education iof Topeka was the beginning of desegregation in American public shools. As result of the courts ruling that “separate but equal” was unconstitutional,it initiated the process of desegregation of public schools in the United States. With opposition from the white community,the unanimous ruling and mandated by the Brown vs. the Board of Education of Topeka was met with resistance. Subsequently,because of resistance by members in the white community, enforcing desegregation of public schools was not easy. Consequently,both black and white students was affected by the ruling .What in ensued was a movement called massive resistance. Shortly after the ruling of Brown vs the Board of Education of Topeka, American public schools slowly began to inter grate. In one particular instance, a group of students known as the Norfolk 17 experienced first hand opposition of desgregation. Four years after the ruling of Brown vs the Board of Education of Topeka,17 Afro-American students sought to continue and to receive an American education as a process of desegregation entered several all white schools in Norfolk Virginia. Wistfully,it has been stated during the desegregation process that the students endured both emotional and physical abuse. Certaintly,the courageousness of these students to perdure such acts of superiority,and hatred paved the way for other students in Norfolk Virginia. Unequivocally,the Norfolk 17 remains as a example and reminder to members of the Black community the of the Supreme Court ruling of Brown vs the Board of Education of Topeka as well as the importance of receiving an quality education in the American public system. Fifty six years later after the Supreme court ruling to desegregate public schools,a ruling that was met with opposition from white citizens in a movement known as “massive resistance”to prevent black students from attending all white schools was thwarted. Ostensibly,today black students attend all white schools with out as much opposition as the Norfolk 17.Veritably,today, minority students still experience prejudices and racism in public schools;however, not on a grand scale as the Norfolk 17.Nonetheless,despite racial and socio-economic backgrounds and cultural differences in the United States,does the use of“massive resistance” have a place in the America public sector? As I was writing this article to get a better understanding of the term “massive resistance”, I formulated a definition by dissecting the term . First ,I looked at the first word “massive” which has several meanings and the second word “resistance” that I know has a limited meaning. Begining with the word “massive”,I derived from the word that it describes either a large group of people, someone working hard or someone making and effort. A part from my definition, an online dictionary gives these definitions for the word “massive”,

1. bulky: large, solid, and heavy

2. comparatively large: large in comparison with what is typical or usual

a massive increase in funding

3. large-scale: extremely large in amount, degree, or scope

massive internal bleeding

In defining the word resistance ,I was immediately able to formulate several definitions,for example,I defined resistance to mean go against,to put up a fight or to oppose authority. Webster dictionary defines resistance as the following:1.resisting 2.power to resist ,as to ward off disease 3.opposition of some force,thing...Indeed,the envisages that I have of modern day “massive resistance” include Desert Storm,Guantanamo Bay,Iraq,Iran and the American Prison System all of these images depicts harshness and cruelty of a massive resistance movement. Although the images I have formulated might not be an accurate picture of massive resistance,it's the images that I frequently referenced to form an example of what modern massive resistance resembles in the United States and abroad. Therefore, it's not an uncommon thought that I immediately upon hearing the term “massive resistance” today, I think of acts of terrorism. At the same time, I pondered whether modern massive resistance operates as a form of reverse discrimination. Throughtout the years, I've often referred to the word discrimination to define someone being excluded based on age,sex,color and religion. Whereas,an online dictionary defines discrimination as the following:1.treating people differently through prejudice: unfair treatment of one person or group, usually because of prejudice about race, ethnicity, age, religion, or gender

2. ability to notice and value quality: the ability to appreciate good quality or taste

3. awareness of subtle differentiation: the ability to notice subtle differences

In 1954 massive resistance surfaced as Black Americans fighting to receive equal education in all white public school system and white citizens opposing the ideology, in 1960 massive resistance re surfaced as Black Americans fought for their rights in a movement lead by Martin Luther King which was known as the Civil Rights Movement and again being opposed by white citizens,and in the late 80's another massive resistance movement developed with American citizens mainly white citizens opposing affirmative action in a bill known as Proposition., today the term massive resistance holds more than one meaning, but regardless of its numerous meaning massive resistance over the years has come with stigma of being harsh and cruel. In spite of the way one might envision massive resistance,without question, for those being opposed and the op poser it's a movement that affects all involved. Ultimately,in the end the question remains,does the use of“massive resistance” have a place in the America public sector?in the United States is today's modern massive resistance movement,resistance,terrorism or reverse discrimination?---cacjohnson