Despite this opposition, the integration plans were carried out and that brings us to where we are today—in the same position we were in 50 years ago.
While some studies have shown that integration through busing worked, schools are still segregated—some would argue more than they’ve ever been.
Democratic presidential candidates are reviving school desegregation efforts. Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders introduced voluntary and court-ordered plans to force school integration. New York City’s mayor and 2020 contender Bill de Blasio has been trying to push integration in his schools even though again, his constituents, and White families across the country, don’t want it.
It all comes down to this: I’m a benefactor of access through busing but I’m not down with it being the end all, be all. And there’s nothing wrong with that option if students and families choose it, but they should also have the option of choosing from a high-performing school in their own community.
So while history repeats itself with forcing the same failed policies and attempts to out-maneuver discriminatory attitudes, kids in low-income Black and Brown neighborhoods are still attending low-quality schools. If we truly want all kids to have a good education, the conversation and implementation has to shift from integration to providing high-quality options to all families in all communities.
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