Race and Education in Public Schools

English 1302

24 November 2015

Race and Education in Public Schools

Race and Education has always been an issue in public schools. Many different issues have arisen since the original integration in schools. Patterns of separation by race are majorly linked to segregation by poverty and poverty is strongly linked to unequal opportunities and outcomes. (Frankenberg, Lee, 1) Minorities have often not been given the same opportunities as the majority based off of the color of their skin. There has been a lot of progress in eliminating racial inequality in public schools, however the path to this day was not easy for most.  “Inequality is like an unwanted guest who comes early and stays late.” (Hendrie, 1)

By the 1870s every state had a public school system, however enrolling black children in a well functioned school was usually the hardest part. First, they would have to find teachers to set up the school and then the teachers would need to ask the county for funding for the school. (Garrow, 1) In addition to the pre-existing problems of blacks attending school daily, in the South, black farmers depended on family labor and the agricultural demands would often result in short school terms for their children. Crop sharing practices would also force many black families to move on a yearly basis so being consistent in any schooling was nearly impossible. (Garrow, 1)

In 1896, the case of Plessy v. Ferguson established the doctrine of “separate but equal” that served as an underpinning for segregation. (Majerol, 17) When the fight against segregation first began The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People argued that the blacks weren’t getting an equal education. In addition, they went on to argue that separate could never be equal. In regards to the Supreme Court’s ruling, Chief Justice Earl Warren said “In the field of public education, the doctrine of ‘separate but equal’ has no place. Separate educational facilities are inherently unequal”. (Majerol, 18)

On May 17, 1954, the Court ruled 9-0 that segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. (Majerol, 16) At this time in Topeka, Kansas there was only four black schools for every eighteen white schools. (Majerol, 16) The odds clearly were not in favor of the minority at this time. In fact, many public schools decided to just shut down instead of integrate. (Majerol, 18) John Stokes, a plaintiff from the Brown v. Board of Education once said, “We knew we were being programmed for failure. All we wanted was a chance.” (Majerol, 17) This statement shows that the black population felt that they were being set up to fail in life instead of succeed and it is very hard to find self-motivation when you feel like you are programed to fail.

In 2004, the Supreme Court ruthlessly limited the ability of public colleges and universities to consider race in admissions. However, private schools are still free to take race into consideration when offering admissions. (America Press Inc., 5) Equal protection jurisprudence focuses on the process by which all citizens including racial minorities participate in self-government.  Justice Sotomayor describes this as, “making it more difficult for a member of a racial minority group to attend college. It’s like making one competitor in a race “run twice as far” as the others.” (America Press Inc., 5)