Race and Education

American public education underwent a profound transformation in the second half of the 20th century. Spurred by the 1954 Supreme Court ruling in Brown v. Board of Education that separate schools for black and white students are “inherently unequal,” schools were integrated to a degree unknown in the nation's history. But in the 1980s a more conservative high court limited the impact of desegregation orders, and judges began releasing many school districts from court-ordered desegregation plans. Critics say the resulting changes have led to resegregation in schools that threatens to limit the educational opportunities of poorer, minority students and undermines racial understanding. But other analysts say the problem is overstated or that claims of resegregation unfairly imply that minority children cannot achieve academically unless they are in the same classroom with white students. The debate surrounding school integration and equal access to quality education is likely to play an important role in shaping the future of American society.