Introduction

Over the next two weeks, you will learn about the history of desegregation in the Boston Public Schools. You will learn about the people who held the power to make decisions and about the people who tried to influence those decisions. Through this study, we hope you learn how to examine events in history through multiple perspectives. These events are within living memory of many people in Boston and continue to shape how we are seen as a city today. 

Activities for students to complete are marked with a 💡

 When you see a lightbulb, it's time to get to work!

Let’s begin our study with this introduction adapted from the City of Boston Archives. What happened during Desegregation and Court-Ordered Busing?  

The landmark Brown vs. Board of Education Supreme Court ruling in 1954 declared racially segregated schools illegal, overturning the previous Plessy vs. Ferguson decision that allowed segregation as long as facilities were deemed "equal." This ruling sparked a nationwide effort to desegregate schools, but the process was met with resistance and challenges. In Massachusetts, the Racial Imbalance Act of 1965 aimed to prevent schools from having a student body with more than 50% minority, but this proved difficult in Boston, leading to legal battles and protests.

In 1972, the NAACP filed a lawsuit against the Boston School Committee, alleging intentional discrimination against Black students. The lawsuit claimed that Black students faced unequal access to resources, inferior schools, and limited opportunities for advancement. The Supreme Judicial Court ruled in favor of the NAACP, finding that the School Committee had violated the Racial Imbalance Act and ordered the state Department of Education to develop a plan for school integration.

In 1974, a federal court ruled that the Boston School Committee had intentionally maintained a system of racial segregation in the Boston Public Schools. This decision led to the implementation of a desegregation plan that involved busing students to schools in different neighborhoods. The plan, known as Phase 1, initially focused on 80 schools where Black and white students lived closest to each other. However, the plan faced significant backlash from parents and community members who were concerned about the impact of busing on their children's safety, education, and neighborhood ties.

The implementation of court-ordered busing in Boston was met with widespread resistance and violence. Parents were hesitant to send their children to schools far from their homes, fearing for their safety and the quality of education they would receive. Many citizens opposed busing due to concerns about its impact on the environment and the potential for disruption, but underlying these concerns was often a deep-seated racism. The first day of school in 1974 was marred by violence in South Boston and Hyde Park, highlighting the deep divisions and tensions surrounding desegregation.

Despite the challenges and resistance, the court-ordered busing plan continued to be implemented, eventually leading to a more racially diverse student body in Boston Public Schools. While the process was fraught with difficulties, it ultimately contributed to a more integrated and equitable educational system in the city. In 1987, the US Appeals Court released Boston Public Schools from its court supervision, marking a significant milestone in the long and complex journey of desegregation in the city. 

💡 When you have finished the reading, open the worksheet below in a new tab, make a copy for your folder and answer the questions.