School Systems:
From Segregation to
Integration
Jadah Nicholson and Christina Odom
Segregation
 The practice or policy of creating separate facilities within the same society for the use of
a minority group
 “Racial segregation was a system derived from the efforts of white Americans to keep
African Americans in a subordinate status by denying them equal access to public
facilities and ensuring that blacks lived apart from whites.” (Lawson)
 The Supreme Court ruled in the 1857 case of Dred Scott v. Sanford that African-Americans
weren’t considered U.S. citizen which led to the exclusion of blacks from many places
 These exclusions included public transportation, hotels, restaurants, theaters, and schools
Integration
 The act of combining or adding parts to make a unified whole
 A change to make a difference in the world and see everyone as equal and whole
 In 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 abolishing
discrimination in education, public facilities, and voting.
 The voter rights act was passed in 1965 but there was still controversy among blacks being
able to integrate and be independent
 In 1970, black college students started to attend what used to be previous white colleges
Segregation in the Schools
 Segregation in the world around was not limited to schools
 White and black children went to separate schools
 The quality of the education of white children seemed to be
more important than that of black children
 White children often had better working environments and
better educational tools while black children basically
received rags
 Even though black children’s education wasn’t considered as
important to most people, some chose to fight for their rights to
an equal education
 The events that took place paved the way to the equal
education children receive today
(McClure)
Black Classroom
What do you notice?
 No desks
 Students are not sitting on individual seats
 Students are sharing a couple of books
 Classroom looks messy
 Classroom looks dirty
 Looks like a poor school
 School for colored people
(“Separate but Equal”)
White Classroom
What do you notice in this picture?
 Student has room to work on a desk
 Student has an individual seat
 Student has their own textbook
 Classroom has a map on the wall
 Classroom looks neat and organized
(Phillips)
Segregation becomes Unconstitutional
 May 17, 1954
 Brown v. Board of Education
 "Separate educational facilities are
inherently unequal.“ ("American Civil
Liberties Union.“)
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J
sZcEHFhWOA
(Rivas)
“The Greensboro Four”
 Joseph McNeil, Ezell Blair, Jr., Franklin
McCain, David Richmond
 Four men that attended NC A&T got tired of
segregation
 Decided to make a change by protesting
at the all white Woolworth Diner
 One of the major starting points of
integration
 Made a difference in the Civil Rights
Movements just as Linda and Oliver Brown,
Ruby Bridges, the Little Rock Nine, and
many others
(McClure)
Brown v. Board of Education
 Linda Brown-African-American 3rd grader
 Oliver Brown, father, felt school she
attended was not equal to the white
schools in her neighborhood
 Father sued the school in hopes that Linda
would be granted an equal education
 May 17, 1954, the Supreme Court
announced that separate was not equal.
(“Brown v. Board of Education”)
“Little Rock Nine”
 September 4, 1957
 Involved Govenor Orval Faubus prevented
nine students from entering Little Rock
Central High School
 Ernest Green, Elizabeth Eckford, Jefferson
Thomas, Terrence Roberts, Carlotta Walls
Lanier, Minnijean Brown Trickey, Gloria Ray
Karlmark, Thelma Mothershed-Wair, Melba
Pattillo Beals
 Called "the most severe test of the
Constitution since the Civil War." (“Little Rock
Central”)
(“Little Rock Central”)
Integration in the Schools:
Ruby Bridges
First black child to attend all-white
elementary school
November 14, 1960
New Orleans
William Frantz Elementary School
Six Years Old
Mrs. Henry
(Bridges)
U.S. Kids Not So Good At Math
 Compares the school system
and the difference between
the quality of education
 One child going to school plus
another child going to school
should equal two children that
are ready for the work force
 Notice, one white child going to
school plus one black child
going to school equals to one
educated child
 Can you guess which child is
prepared for the future.
(Bendib)
High Court Bans School Segregation
 On May 17, the Supreme Court outlawed
the view that separate was equal in the
schools system
 This law put a ending to segregation in
schools in twenty one states and in the
District of Columbia
 Was a 9-0 decision
 Discussed that segregation in schools
withdraws the children from having equal
educational opportunities
(Huston)
Significant Supreme Court Cases Involving
Segregation in Schools
 1968-Green v. New Kent County, Va.: found the state’s “freedom of choice” plans
ineffective at producing actual school desegregation. The Court says that school officials
have an affirmative duty to eliminate segregation “root and branch.” Justices introduce
the principle of “achieving unitary status,” or a racially nondiscriminatory system.
 1971-Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenberg Board of Education, N.C.: provided judges with
broad power to fashion remedies to racial segregation if school districts fail to do so.
Decision allowed the busing of white and black students and redrawing school district
lines to end segregation of schools.
 1973-Keyes v. School District No. 1, Denver: ruled that schools have responsibility to
desegregate, even in districts where schools had not been segregated by law. Limited
remedies courts can fashion for school districts that did not have laws requiring racially
segregated schools.
 1974-Milliken v. Bradley: curtailed the power of judges to impose area-wide remedies,
such as forced busing, on one school district to address racial segregation in another.
Significant Supreme Court Cases Involving
Segregation in Schools Cont’d
 1978-Regents of the University of California v. Bakke: struck down on racial quotas but
embraced the concept of affirmative action by saying admissions policies can take race
into account.
 1991-Board of Education of Oklahoma City v. Dowell: made it easier for school districts to
abandon forced busing of students once racial desegregation was achieved, even if it
resulted in a return to racially segregated schools.
 1992-Freeman v. Pitts: ruled that courts could end supervision of aspects of desegregation
plans once segregated school districts achieve integration incrementally.
 2000-Hopwood v. Texas: refused to consider a lower court ruling that says developing a
racially or ethnically diverse student body could not serve as a legitimate governmental
reason for implementing a race-based admissions policy.
 2003-Gratz v. Bollinger and Grutter v. Bollinger: banned the use of rigid formulas that
award points based on race for admission to the University of Michigan’s undergraduate
program and law school. But the court permited colleges to consider race as part of a
“holistic review” of every application.
Benefits of Integration in Schools
 Provides the opportunity to interact with those
of a different culture and race
 Helps students view more cultures
 Has an effect on students racial attitudes
 Lessens the racial stereotypes or discrimination
that one may face
(Shen)
Is It Me or The Books? by Chiliyah Leak
Talking about a place for education
Not a place where it's segregation
What does my race say compared to these whites?
I'm not dedicated?
Just because there is a darker pigment on my skin don't mean that my intelligence is thin
See what you don't understand is that I have the strive and ambition just as much as anybody else!
But I still get these old torn books on broken shelves?
Is there a reason that I get looks when I can quote a book?
Or how about when I can do a math problems, and it's even hard for teachers to solve them!
What's the difference between me and them?
I'm not just somebody who can shoot a ball in the gym?
It's funny because I'm actually working for mine, and these so called intelligent whites getting slaps on the behind!
So yes I'm getting this education
And nothing will stop me, specially segregation.
Segregation Still Exists Today
 http://youtu.be/cb0sg6zXKhM
 Wilcox County High School
*Wilcox County, GA
 This news report discusses how some students stood
up at a local high school to enforce it’s first
integrated prom.
 Students felt as if there was no need for two
separate proms because they all get along
equally.
 This also shows that even though segregation was
demolished, it still exists in some places today.
(Daniels)
Diversity Close to Home
 Though the majority of the
population at this school
seems to predominantly
be white, there is also a
strong population which
proves that integration is
effective in 2013.
(“College Search”)
In Conclusion….
 From looking at the different groups of people and cases who took a
stand against segregation in schools, we can see that the integration
of schools has progressed throughout the years
 However, in some small towns, segregation still heavily exists.
 As we look at observations from different surroundings, we see that
those of the same race are not restricted to but still cling to their own.
Works Cited
 "American Civil Liberties Union." American Civil Liberties Union. ACLU, 8 Feb. 2007. Web. 16 July
2013.
 Associated Press. "Highlights of Significant Supreme Court Cases on Race and Schools." - Higher
Education. DiverseEducation.com, 29 June 2007. Web. 16 July 2013.
 Bendib, Khalil. "School Resegregation." OtherWords. N.p., 12 Apr. 2013. Web. 16 July 2013.
 Bridges, Ruby. "Ruby Bridges | The Story." Ruby Bridges | The Story. Guideposts, Mar.
Web. 23 July 2013.
 "Brown v. Board of Education." Brown v. Board of Education. N.p., n.d. Web.
2000.
16 July 2013.
 "Brown v. Board of Education: Where Have We Been, Where Are We Now, and Where Are We
Going?" Www.Brown@50.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 July 2013.
 "College Search - University of North Carolina at Charlotte - UNC at Charlotte." College Search University of North Carolina at Charlotte - UNC at Charlotte. The College Board, n.d. Web. 16
July 2013.
Works Cited, Cont’d
 Daniels, Antonio M. "Revolutionary Paideia." Revolutionary Paideia. N.p., 7 Apr. 2013. Web. 16
July 2013.
 Faison, Latorial. "African American Poetry by Latorial Faison: Ruby Bridges' Brave Step." African
American Poetry by Latorial Faison: Ruby
Bridges' Brave Step. N.p., 8 Nov. 2012. Web. 24 July
2013.
 "Greensboro Sit-In and the Sit-In Movement." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 16 July
2013.
 Huston, Luther A. "High Court Bans School Segregation; 9-to-0 Decision Grants Time to Comply." The
New York Times On The Web. N.p., 18 May 1954. Web. 16 July 2013.
 Johnston, Phillip. “A New Era Dawns for the Grammar School.” The Telegraph. 26 Mar.
2012. Web
 Lawson, Stephen F. "Segregation, Freedom's Story, TeacherServe®, National Humanities Center."
Segregation, Freedom's Story, TeacherServe®, National Humanities Center. National
Humanities
Center, n.d. Web. 16 July 2013.
 "Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site." www.nps.gov. N.p., n.d. Web. 16
July 2013.
Works Cited, Cont’d
 McClure, Brian. "State of HBCUs." State of HBCUs. N.p., 1 Feb. 2012. Web. 16 July 2013.
 "Rivas, Jorge. "May 17, 1954: Supreme Court Rules Racial Segregation in Schools
Unconstitutional - COLORLINES." RSS. Colorlines.com, 17 May 2013. Web. 16 July 2013.
 "Ruby Bridges Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 23 July 2013.
 “Separate but Equal: West Memphis 1948.” - Arkansaw Traveler. Web. 23 July 2013
 Shen, Ann. The New York Times. The New York Times Company, 28 May 2012. Web. 16 July
2013
 "The Little Rock Nine." The Little Rock Nine. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 July 2013.