Desegregation busing

Integrated busing in Charlotte, North Carolina

Desegregation busing

Desegregation busing refers to the practice of transporting students to schools outside their local school districts in order to eliminate racial segregation in schools. This practice was implemented in the United States during the 1970s and 1980s as a means to comply with the Supreme Court's decision in Brown v. Board of Education, which declared state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students to be unconstitutional.

History

The concept of desegregation busing emerged after the landmark 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision, which overturned the Plessy v. Ferguson decision of 1896 that had allowed state-sponsored segregation. Despite the ruling, many schools remained segregated due to residential patterns and local resistance. In response, federal courts began to order busing as a tool to achieve integration.

Implementation

Desegregation busing was implemented in various cities across the United States, including Boston, Detroit, and Charlotte. The practice involved transporting students from predominantly black neighborhoods to predominantly white schools and vice versa. This was intended to create a more balanced racial composition in schools and provide equal educational opportunities for all students.

Controversy

Desegregation busing was highly controversial and met with significant opposition from both white and black communities. Many white parents opposed busing because they did not want their children attending schools in predominantly black neighborhoods. Conversely, some black parents were concerned about the safety and well-being of their children in predominantly white schools. The opposition led to protests, legal challenges, and, in some cases, violence.

Impact

The impact of desegregation busing on educational equality is debated. Some studies suggest that busing helped to reduce racial segregation in schools and improve educational outcomes for minority students. However, other studies indicate that the practice led to "white flight," where white families moved to suburban areas to avoid busing, thereby perpetuating segregation in different forms.

End of Busing

By the late 1980s and early 1990s, many school districts began to phase out desegregation busing due to changing demographics, legal challenges, and the belief that it was no longer necessary. The Supreme Court also issued rulings that made it easier for school districts to end busing programs.

Related Pages

• Brown v. Board of Education
• Plessy v. Ferguson
• Racial segregation
• Civil Rights Movement
• Supreme Court of the United States
• White flight