I was a high school sophomore, my sister a senior,
when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 9-0 in favor of Brown vs. the Board of
Education declaring “separate but equal” invalid.” Because of my father’s death four years
before, my sister and I received social security benefits. Our mother worked a low-paying job, but we
had public education. Both of us became valedictorians, and went on to a public
community college. I eventually earned a Ph.D. An excellent public high school
where all were included in a small city of 30,000 made that possible. Today
that school is still excellent, open to all, but the state first cut 1 million
from the school budget, then two million and this year 3 million more.
Brown
opened the doors but there was resistance from the beginning. Prince Edward
County, Virginia, in 1959, rather than integrate its schools, closed its entire
public school system, creating private schools to educate its white children,
supported by state and county tax funds. No provision was made for educating
the country’s black children. Some students missed part or all of their
education for five years.
Brown 60 years ago, 10 years before the passage of
the Civil Rights Bill, was a turning point towards dismantling Jim Crow. In 1954 the white majority accepted white
supremacy and racial bias; today the majority reject it and are appalled
(surprised, calling it a “generational thing”) by racist remarks by an NBL
owner. But asking if someone is a racist misses the deeper issues.
Between roughly 1965 and 1980, some progress was
made in integration, mainly by court order, but “by all deliberate speed” was
slow, and now has reversed. We see once again closing of public schools. Although the “appearance is race neutral,”
the reality is not, Attorney General Eric Holder has noted. The 49 elementary
schools closed in Chicago were mostly black. Likewise in New Orleans and Newark
and across the country school districts, counties and states, under the wording
of “school choice,” are taking public funds and giving them to private school
movements. The remaining schools in predominantly African-American, Hispanic
and poor neighborhoods are labeled underachieving and subject to being closed
next. Some poor neighborhoods have become school deserts. Secretary of
Education Arne Duncan says it’s de facto segregation
, about housing, where people choose
to live. The problem is that some people
have money to choose and many do not.
It’s a matter of worth: some children being
named--or forgotten, dismissed--as “worthless.” Economic inequality is defended
on the belief that some children are worth more than others. Some say that
children from poor families ought to clean their school buildings to work for
their lunch. Apartheid thinking says, “You are not who we think should succeed
in school.” This is directly contrary
to our American promises and to our laws.
We need to strengthen public community schools as
places for all children to learn together whatever their abilities,
disabilities, social-economic, racial or ethnic background. Dismantling public (“government”) schools hurts everyone.
It will not do, for “my child” to have a “good” education, but not the child of
my neighbor, next door, across town, across the country. As economic inequality
grows, we become isolated and fear the neighbor.
There are of course examples of progress, where
people in suburbs and cities have conscientiously joined together to cross
racial and economic boundaries to create excellent multi-cultural schools. But still
the opportunities are not equal. One
half to 3/4 of African-American and
Hispanic children attend schools in which the majority of students are classified
as low income.
First Lady Michelle Obama speaking to Topeka high school graduates said, "I think it's
fitting that we're celebrating this historic Supreme Court case tonight, not
just because Brown started right here in Topeka. . . but because you all are
the living, breathing legacy of this case."
She added, “Many districts in this country have actually pulled back on efforts
to integrate their schools and many communities have become less diverse.” She
told them never to be afraid to talk about the issues, especially race, because
it is the only way we will heal the wounds of the past.
Cheryl Brown Henderson, daughter of one of the
plaintiffs said this weekend that Brown opened doors but that we didn’t have
reconciliation. Where’s the courage to
have reconciliation among the races?
Wartburg Seminary where I teach is a Lutheran Christian graduate
school. Some "Christian" schools contribute to segregation or exclude children with disabilities. However we ELCA Lutherans do not promote separatism and welcome people with special needs. Our Lutheran (ELCA) church body
has a social statement, “Our Calling in Education,” which makes a strong case
for supporting public schools, even while having many Lutheran pre-schools, day schools, some high schools and many church-related colleges. We realize the necessity of also contributing to the tax base for education for all, not just "our own."
I, a young white woman 60 years ago, rejoiced at the
passing of Brown: separate is not equal.
The challenge is greater today: excellent public education for all
everywhere.
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