Several weeks ago, in a landmark decision, the Supreme Court decided to end the mandatory busing program in Charlotte, North Carolina. This program was one of the oldest in the country, and served as an effective means of desegregating schools and giving students of all races equal educational opportunities. It was a means of ending the "dual system of poor schools for blacks and better schools for whites."
However, after years of legal battles by "white parents," the Supreme Court caved in and overturned their 1971 ruling that made this busing program in Charlotte mandatory.
The impact of this decision has serious repercussions, which the well-paid, privileged judges failed to take into account. Not only will ending the busing program widen the gap between rich schools and poor schools, but it makes a statement that segregation is okay.
Don't think that this is what it means? Think again.
The impact of the Supreme Court decision has filtered down to other school districts in other parts of the country. In fact, on Monday The Associated Press reported a story out of Elk Grove, Calif. in which a principal decided to hold segregated parent meetings based on race.
Backed with the support of his superintendent and his school district, the principal of the school decided to hold segregated meetings for parents to discuss their child's performance on standardized tests such as the Stanford 9 and the STAR. Because White and Asian students scored slightly better than African-American and Hispanic students — and by slightly I mean 75 points more out of a 1,000 point test — the principal felt the need to separate the parental groups by race in order to provide an atmosphere where they could talk freely without feeling "embarrassed." Consequently, the principal held four meetings for the four major racial groups represented in the school's population: African American, White, Hispanic and Asian.
While the principal's intentions can be perceived as inherently good, he clearly did not think about how morally wrong his actions were. And unfortunately, many other people failed to realize the impact of this as well.
Some parents quoted had no problem with the segregation. As Nancy Kilborn, a white mother residing in the middle class suburb, replied, "I was kind of surprised and shocked when I first heard about the meetings." But she went on to say that she "felt very comfortable" with it.
The segregation issues that have come forth in the past couple of weeks infuriate me. It feels as if our country is making no efforts towards racial equality but instead is reverting back to the Jim Crow attitudes of the past. It starts with a court ruling, and then can spin out of control from there.
Stories such as these would have been common in the 1960s. But the fact that over 40 years later we are still hearing these stories is upsetting. Perhaps the most alarming issue to arise out of these situations is the fact that people today don't seemed to be as bothered by this as they should be.
What is happening in our country today with regards to segregation is a travesty. You may not think that it affects you, but it does. Anytime a person is discriminated against, part of their individual liberty is taken away, and when this happens, everyone's freedom is affected.
It is important, particularly in this day in age, that all individuals open their eyes and see what is going on. Awareness is a small step, but it is the first step towards eliminating racial discrimination.
Karen Engler is a graduate student in literature. Reach her at karen.engler@asu.edu.
