The Racial Integration of the Education System

The Modern Civil Rights Movement is a movement, formed in the 1950’s, that began with the intention to show the world the social injustices the african american community has faced in the United States of America. The Modern Civil Rights Movement conveys hundreds of vital topics that impact today’s society and culture. One topic that has impacted today’s society and culture is the role of schools during both segregation and post integration. Since integration, a bigger question is at play: are predominantly african american schools still academically behind diverse schools?

During the 1950's and 1960's, the fight for integration was at an all time high. At this time, african american children were not provided the same quality of education because segregation was still permitted, however, activist for desegregation would soon argue segregation was unconstitutional. In the Supreme Court case, Brown v Board of Education, "justices ruled unanimously that racial segregation of children in public school was unconstitutional"(History Editors). Due to african american children being denied admittance from certain schools because of their race, an uproar of minority voices began to speak up on behalf of the shortcomings of the school system. After taking the case to court, the Supreme Court argued "separate but equal", is not equal according to the Equal Protection Clause in the Fourteenth Amendment. This was a huge, because "the Supreme Court ruled in Plessy V. Ferguson that racially segregated public facilities were legal" (History Editors). Again for society as a whole, this declaration was a huge forthcoming, however, this did not mean segregation in schools would end right then and there. The process of integration took years, and eventually mandated that the federal government interfere. The first instance of integration was The Little Rock Nine. Attending this school, were nine young african americans who were set to integrate a formerly all white high school, known as Central High School. Members of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) found children who would integrate the school system. After finding these children, Daisy Bates taught them, "non-violent tactics", and "created a strategy to protect them from protestors (Norwood). Bates knew these children would not have the privilege of simply walking into their new school. Instead of having that privilege, they were "greeted by an angry mob and the National Guard" hindering them from coming into the school (Norwood). After weeks of this abuse, President Dwight Eisenhower sent U.S. Army troops to escort these nine children into Central High School. These nine students would eventually attend Central High without the assistance of U.S. Army troops, yet they still endured daily harassment and threats.

Since these two major symbols marked the end of segregation in schools, integration has been demonstrated everywhere in the United States. The concern now is how are primarily african american schools doing, since integration has occurred. The majority of schools that are primarily dominated by races other than white tend to be further behind. These schools are behind academically because they do not have the same resources that predominantly white, middle-class schools have. Having such inequalities within the education system is when the debate of equality vs equity comes into play. Equality is giving everyone the same thing, while equity is providing people with the tools they need in order to succeed. In the United States, schools do not provide children equity, which is why predominantly african american schools often struggle. This is why people need to find a way to decrease the achievement gap in the United States.

The controversy of whether the achievement gap in the United States is racially biased is crucial for our society as a whole, because it is vital our society looks out for the future generations. Although segregation has ended, certain schools are still behind because of their student's race, ethnicity, or social class. Something must change.

Thesis: Although schools are no longer racially segregated, schools with a predominantly african american population fall behind predominantly white schools. Due to the achievement gap and the disproportion in school funding across school systems, racial segregation still occurs in the public school system.