Legacies of School Desegregation, and Predominantly White Curriculum.

Learn more about the historical struggle for equal access to education – which has yet to be resolved. Even today, Black and BIPOC students face the challenge of desegregating classrooms and schools, unequal funding, as well as being policed on campus. Click on the image links below, as well as a subsequent list of more than forty additional readings.

"Ruby Bridges, 6 years old, with state-appointed security escorts as the first Black student to attend an all-white elementary school in the U.S. South in 1960..."

"Ruby Bridges, 6 years old, with state-appointed security escorts as the first Black student to attend an all-white elementary school in the U.S. South in 1960..."

"Student John Black, U.S. school desegregation by bussing, 1978..."

"Student John Black, U.S. school desegregation by bussing, 1978..."

Elizabeth Eckford (age 15) ignores the screams and stares of fellow students and parents, Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, 1957

Elizabeth Eckford (age 15) ignores the screams and stares of fellow students and parents, Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, 1957

Elizabeth Eckford (age 15), Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, 1957

Elizabeth Eckford (age 15), Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, 1957

Elizabeth Eckford (age 15) waits at a bus stop, Little Rock, Arkansas, 1957

Elizabeth Eckford (age 15) waits at a bus stop, Little Rock, Arkansas, 1957

The Little Rock Nine being escorted by the U.S. National Guard, Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, 1957

The Little Rock Nine being escorted by the U.S. National Guard, Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, 1957

Journalist Daisy Bates and The Little Rock Nine teenagers, Arkansas, 1957

Journalist Daisy Bates and The Little Rock Nine teenagers, Arkansas, 1957

Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, 1957

Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, 1957

The Little Rock Nine teenagers, Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, 1957

The Little Rock Nine teenagers, Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, 1957

Brown v. Board of Education (1954) / by Imani Perry for The Washington Post (2014)

Brown v. Board of Education (1954) / by Imani Perry for The Washington Post (2014)

"Who was the first black child to go to an integrated school?" ' by Russell Ellsworth Lovell II for TheConversation.com (2019)

"Who was the first black child to go to an integrated school?" ' by Russell Ellsworth Lovell II for TheConversation.com (2019)

Public schools in the era of desegregation bussing...

Public schools in the era of desegregation bussing...

Public schools in the era of desegregation bussing...

Public schools in the era of desegregation bussing...

twitter @KamalaHarris

twitter @KamalaHarris

"Why are American public schools still segregated?" / by Ivan Natividad for news.berkeley.edu (2020)

"Why are American public schools still segregated?" / by Ivan Natividad for news.berkeley.edu (2020)

Longterm stress and psychological effects of desegregating schools, while also facing intimidation by armed officers on campus... / memoir by Melba Patillo Beals

Longterm stress and psychological effects of desegregating schools, while also facing intimidation by armed officers on campus... / memoir by Melba Patillo Beals

Jodie Landon and Mack Mackenzie, produced by Brendan Smith for BuzzFeed 2017

Jodie Landon and Mack Mackenzie, produced by Brendan Smith for BuzzFeed 2017

bias in disciplinary actions at school / by Erica L. Green for The New York Times (2018)

bias in disciplinary actions at school / by Erica L. Green for The New York Times (2018)

racial disparities in school discipline, federal data / by Moriah Balingit for The Washington Post (2018)

racial disparities in school discipline, federal data / by Moriah Balingit for The Washington Post (2018)

on racial inequity in school funding / by Claire Lombardo for NPR (2019)

on racial inequity in school funding / by Claire Lombardo for NPR (2019)

racial inequity in school funding / by Keith Meatto for The New York Times (2019)

racial inequity in school funding / by Keith Meatto for The New York Times (2019)

disparities in higher education / by Georgetown University Center on Education & Workforce (2018)

disparities in higher education / by Georgetown University Center on Education & Workforce (2018)

on police presence in schools / by Anya Kamenetz, artist Jonell Joshua, for NPR (2020)

on police presence in schools / by Anya Kamenetz, artist Jonell Joshua, for NPR (2020)

police presence in schools, an extensive research thread / IG @D_Stieber(2020)

police presence in schools, an extensive research thread / IG @D_Stieber(2020)

twitter @marriabau 2020

twitter @marriabau 2020

student voices on police presence in schools / by Nicole Chavez for CNN (2020)

student voices on police presence in schools / by Nicole Chavez for CNN (2020)

1963 school boycott Chicago / by elaine chen for south side weekly (2017)

1963 school boycott Chicago / by elaine chen for south side weekly (2017)

50 Chicago Public School closures in 2013 / by sarah karp for wbez (2018)

50 Chicago Public School closures in 2013 / by sarah karp for wbez (2018)

ADDITIONAL READINGS (AND CITATIONS/CREATED BY):

  1. Adaway, Kristen. “What I've Learned as a Black Student At a PWI.” Her Campus. Her Campus Media, LLC, June 3, 2017. https://www.hercampus.com/high-school/what-i-ve-learned-black-student-pwi.

  2. Adebisi, Adesewa Esther. “As a Black Student, I Know Why Our Grades Are Worse: Universities Don't Listen to Us.” The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, May 2, 2019. https://www.theguardian.com/education/2019/may/02/as-a-black-student-i-know-why-our-grades-are-worse-universities-dont-listen-to-us.

  3. Akilah Obviously. “The Only Black Kid in Class | Akilah Obviously.” YouTube video, 2:57. February 15, 2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=envvH-iJjg4

  4. Alisa. “My First Black Teacher.” FreshmanComp.com, March 14, 2019. http://freshmancomp.com/2019/03/13/my-first-black-teacher/.

  5. Angela (@wokeSTEMteacher). “What grade were you in when you had your first Black teacher?” Twitter. April 24, 2020. Accessed June 19, 2020. https://twitter.com/wokeSTEMteacher/status/1253807835844161538

  6. Archive created by the students of UC Berkeley's American Studies H110 under the supervision of Scott Saul, with the support of UC Berkeley's Digital Humanities initiative. “Berkeley's Public Schools.” The Berkeley Revolution. 2017. http://revolution.berkeley.edu/projects/public-schools/.

  7. Archive created by the students of UC Berkeley's American Studies H110 under the supervision of Scott Saul, with the support of UC Berkeley's Digital Humanities initiative. “Berkeley's School Integration Program Proceeds Smoothly.” The Berkeley Revolution. 2017. http://revolution.berkeley.edu/berkeleys-school-integration-program-proceeds-smoothly/

  8. Archive created by the students of UC Berkeley's American Studies H110 under the supervision of Scott Saul, with the support of UC Berkeley's Digital Humanities initiative. “Berkeley's Yellow School Buses to Become Symbol of Integration.” The Berkeley Revolution. 2017. http://revolution.berkeley.edu/berkeleys-yellow-school-buses-symbol-integration/

  9. Associated Press. “60 Years On, A Look Back at the Little Rock Nice?” YouTube video, 3:09, September 24, 2017. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ym8rdtq-KBE

  10. Balingit, Moriah. “Racial Disparities in School Discipline Are Growing, Federal Data Show.” The Washington Post. WP Company, April 25, 2018. https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/racial-disparities-in-school-discipline-are-growing-federal-data-shows/2018/04/24/67b5d2b8-47e4-11e8-827e-190efaf1f1ee_story.html.

  11. Barber, Anjanique. “#MyBlackHistory: When You're the Only Black Kid in a Sea of White Classes.” Education Post, March 6, 2017. https://educationpost.org/myblackhistory-when-youre-the-only-black-kid-in-a-sea-of-white-classes/.

  12. Bautista, Maria (@marriabau). “No budget justice, no peace.” Twitter. June 27, 2020. Accessed June 19, 2020. https://twitter.com/marriabau/status/1276923704790917121

  13. Beals, Melba. White Is a State of Mind: a Memoir. New York: Berkley Books, 2000.

  14. Browne-Marshall, Gloria J. “20 Years After Busing Ended, Schools Are Again Segregated.” Time. Time USA, LLC, September 11, 2019. https://time.com/5673555/busing-school-segregation/.

  15. Bunch, Lonnie. “The Little Rock Nine.” National Museum of African American History and Culture. Smithsonian Institution, September 6, 2018. https://nmaahc.si.edu/blog-post/little-rock-nine.

  16. BuzzFeed Celeb. “Is Jodie Landon The Most Important TV Character Of The 90s?” YouTube video, 3:23, August 9, 2017. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqJ9XNw07-0

  17. Chen, Elaine. “Freedom Day, Fifty Years On.” South Side Weekly, October 31, 2017. South Side Weekly. https://southsideweekly.com/freedom-day-fifty-years-kartemquin-boycott/

  18. Chisholm, Jennifer. “I'm a Black Academic – That Doesn't Mean I Want to Be an Expert on Race.” The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, March 14, 2018. https://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/2018/mar/14/black-academic-expert-race-university.

  19. Cornish, Audie. “Why Busing Didn't End School Segregation.” NPR. NPR, October 6, 2016. https://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2016/10/06/496411024/why-busing-didnt-end-school-segregation.

  20. Dukes, Vivett. “‘By the Time I Was the Only Black Kid in All My Honors Classes, I Was Already Confident in My Abilities."” New York School Talk, January 20, 2018. https://newyorkschooltalk.org/2018/01/time-black-kid-honor-classes-already-confident-abilities/.

  21. Eckford, Elizabeth. “In Her Own Words: Elizabeth Eckford.” Facing History and Ourselves. Facing History and Ourselves. https://www.facinghistory.org/resource-library/her-own-words-elizabeth-eckford.

  22. El Magd, Noha Abou. “Why Is My Curriculum White? - Decolonising the Academy @ NUS Connect.” NUS Connect, September 2, 2016. https://www.nusconnect.org.uk/articles/why-is-my-curriculum-white-decolonising-the-academy.

  23. Evans, Stephanie Y. “Women of Color in American Higher Education.” Thought & Action, 2007, 131–38. https://doi.org/https://www.nea.org/assets/docs/TAA_07_13.pdf.

  24. Finley, Taryn. “This Is What It's Like To Be The Only Black Kid In Class.” HuffPost. HuffPost, January 4, 2016. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/this-is-what-its-like-to-be-the-only-black-kid-in-class_n_568a847be4b014efe0dae77d.

  25. Garcia-Navarro, Lulu, and Matt Delmont. “A History Of School Busing.” NPR. NPR, June 30, 2019. https://www.npr.org/2019/06/30/737393607/a-history-of-school-busing.

  26. Green, Erica L. “Why Are Black Students Punished So Often? Minnesota Confronts a National Quandary.” The New York Times. The New York Times, March 18, 2018. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/18/us/politics/school-discipline-disparities-white-black-students.html.

  27. Hall, Rachel. “'I've Been Mistaken for the Coffee Lady': Experiences of Black Female Academics.” The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, November 16, 2017. https://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/2017/nov/16/black-female-academics-ive-been-mistaken-for-the-coffee-lady.

  28. Iyohannes. “The Survival Guide for Students of Color at PWIs.” Black Enterprise. Earl G. Graves Sr., September 23, 2017. https://www.blackenterprise.com/survival-guide-students-color-pwi/.

  29. Jaschik, Scott. “Morehouse Will Start Admitting Transgender Men.” Inside Higher Ed, April 15, 2019. https://www.insidehighered.com/admissions/article/2019/04/15/morehouse-announces-new-approach-transgender-applicants-and-students.

  30. Jones, Jacinth. “Going to an HBCU Helped Me Figure Out What It Means to Be Black.” Teen Vogue. Condé Nast, February 21, 2017. https://www.teenvogue.com/story/what-its-like-to-go-to-hbcu.

  31. Kamenetz, Anya. “Why There's A Push To Get Police Out Of Schools.” WBUR, June 23, 2020. https://www.wbur.org/npr/881608999/why-theres-a-push-to-get-police-out-of-schools.

  32. Karp, Sarah. “Study: 2013 Chicago School Closings Failed To Help Students.” WBEZ Chicago. WBEZ Chicago, May 23, 2018. https://www.wbez.org/stories/study-2013-chicago-school-closings-failed-to-help-students/0eea4948-78dc-4fc9-9c45-0750584cb9f4.

  33. Laufer, Mahajoy A., "Black students' classroom silence in predominantly White institutions of higher education" (2012). Masters Thesis, Smith College, Northampton, MA. https://scholarworks.smith.edu/theses/639

  34. Lombardo, Clare. “Why White School Districts Have So Much More Money.” NPR. NPR, February 26, 2019. https://www.npr.org/2019/02/26/696794821/why-white-school-districts-have-so-much-more-money.

  35. Meatto, Keith. “Still Separate, Still Unequal: Teaching about School Segregation and Educational Inequality.” The New York Times. The New York Times, May 2, 2019. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/02/learning/lesson-plans/still-separate-still-unequal-teaching-about-school-segregation-and-educational-inequality.html.

  36. Morton, Neal. “Seattle Once Bused Students to Try to Desegregate Its Schools - without a Court Order. Former Students Reflect on the Experiment.” The Seattle Times. The Seattle Times Company, July 29, 2019. https://www.seattletimes.com/education-lab/seattle-once-bused-students-to-try-to-desegregate-its-schools-without-a-court-order-former-students-reflect-on-the-experiment/.

  37. Muldoon, James. “Academics: It's Time to Get behind Decolonising the Curriculum.” The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, March 20, 2019. https://www.theguardian.com/education/2019/mar/20/academics-its-time-to-get-behind-decolonising-the-curriculum.

  38. Nagdee, Ilyas. “Universities Must Stop Covering up Racism in Order to Protect Their Own Reputations | Ilyas Nagdee.” The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, October 23, 2019. https://www.theguardian.com/education/2019/oct/23/universities-must-stop-covering-up-racism-in-order-to-protect-their-own-reputations.

  39. Natividad, Ivan. “Why Are American Public Schools Still Segregated?” Berkeley News, March 4, 2020. https://news.berkeley.edu/2020/03/04/why-are-american-public-schools-still-segregated/.

  40. News Editor. “The Black Teacher Archives to Launch at Harvard University.” Harvard Graduate School of Education. Harvard Graduate School of Education Publishing, June 10, 2020. https://www.gse.harvard.edu/news/20/06/black-teacher-archives-launch-harvard-university.

  41. Nigatu, Heben. “27 Things You Had To Deal With As The Only Black Kid In Your Class.” BuzzFeed, May 2, 2013. https://www.buzzfeed.com/hnigatu/27-things-you-had-to-deal-with-as-the-only-black-kid-in-your.

  42. Norwood, Arlisha. “Daisy Bates.” National Women’s History Museum. 2017. https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/daisy-bates

  43. O'Neal Cokley, Kevin. “What It Means to Be Black in the American Educational System.” The Conversation. The Conversation US, Inc., November 28, 2019. https://theconversation.com/what-it-means-to-be-black-in-the-american-educational-system-63576.

  44. Rees, David. “Living Openly: Being a Black, Transgender Student at UC.” The News Record. Independently published by University of Cincinnati students, September 18, 2019. https://www.newsrecord.org/news/features/living-openly-being-a-black-transgender-student-at-uc/article_c75cd7a4-d9a9-11e9-9718-73081dac09f2.html.

  45. Richards, Bedelia Nicola. “How to Create Inclusive Environments for Black Students on Predominantly White College Campuses.” Scholars Strategy Network. Scholars Strategy Network, February 7, 2019. https://scholars.org/contribution/how-create-inclusive-environments-black-students-predominantly-white-college-campuses.

  46. Simon, Mashaun D. “Spelman College Becomes Second Women's Only HBCU to Admit Transgender Students.” NBCNews.com. NBCUniversal News Group, September 11, 2017. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/spelman-college-becomes-second-women-s-only-hbcu-admit-transgender-n799536

  47. Slevin, Peter. “Michelle Obama, Race and the Ivy League.” Politico Magazine. Capitol News Company, March 26, 2015. https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/03/michelle-obama-princeton-harvard-116390.

  48. Smith, David. “Little Rock Nine: the Day Young Students Shattered Racial Segregation.” The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, September 24, 2017. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/sep/24/little-rock-arkansas-school-segregation-racism.

  49. Smith, Kayla. “Read A Black Girl's Survival Guide To Attending A PWI.” VOX ATL. VOX ATL, August 8, 2019. https://voxatl.org/black-girls-survival-guide-pwi/.

  50. Smith, Melissa. “'You Start the Game Tired': What It's Like to Be One of the Few Black Students at an Elite Art School.” artnet News, July 1, 2019. https://news.artnet.com/art-world/black-students-art-school-1585906.

  51. Tate, Stephanie. “What It's Really Like to Be Black at a Predominantly White School.” Teen Vogue. Condé Nast, February 22, 2017. https://www.teenvogue.com/story/what-its-like-to-be-black-at-pwi.

  52. The TFA Editorial Team. “The Legacy of Black Teachers in the Classroom.” Teach For America. Teach For America Inc., January 31, 2020. https://www.teachforamerica.org/stories/the-legacy-of-black-teachers-in-the-classroom.

  53. UCL. “Why is my curriculum white?” YouTube video, 20:09, November 11, 2014. http://www.dtmh.ucl.ac.uk/videos/curriculum-white/

  54. Wamsted, Jay. “27 Mistakes White Teachers of Black Students Make and How to Fix Them.” Education Post. brightbeam, January 6, 2020. https://educationpost.org/27-mistakes-white-teachers-of-black-students-make-and-how-to-fix-them/.

  55. Ware, Lawrence. “How to Survive, Be Safe and Thrive at a Predominantly White Institution.” The Root. G/O Media, August 8, 2016. https://www.theroot.com/how-to-survive-be-safe-and-thrive-at-a-predominantly-w-1790856312.

  56. “BROWN V. BOARD: Timeline of School Integration in the U.S.” Teaching Tolerance Magazine no. 25, Spring 2004. https://www.tolerance.org/magazine/spring-2004/brown-v-board-timeline-of-school-integration-in-the-us.

  57. “Eisenhower and the Little Rock Crisis.” The Library of Congress. Accessed June 30, 2020. http://www.americaslibrary.gov/aa/eisenhower/aa_eisenhower_littlerock_3.html.

  58. “First Black Teachers in White Schools.” Institute for Oral History | Baylor University, May 2016. https://www.baylor.edu/oralhistory/index.php?id=931941.

  59. “Little Rock School Desegregation.” In The Martin Luther King, Jr. Encyclopedia. Greenwood Press, May 22, 2018. https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/encyclopedia/little-rock-school-desegregation

  60. “Our Separate & Unequal Public Colleges: How Public Colleges Reinforce White Racial Privilege and Marginalize Black and Latino Students.” CEW Georgetown. Accessed July 21, 2020. https://cew.georgetown.edu/cew-reports/sustates/.

  61. “Ruby Bridges Goes to School.” PBS. Public Broadcasting Service, 2013. https://www.pbs.org/wnet/african-americans-many-rivers-to-cross/video/ruby-bridges-goes-to-school/.

  62. “School Segregation and Integration.” The Library of Congress. The Library of Congress. Accessed June 30, 2020. https://www.loc.gov/collections/civil-rights-history-project/articles-and-essays/school-segregation-and-integration/.

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