Context for Questions: Race/Racism, as you’ve learned, has been a part of the history of American public education from the earliest days of the nation. But during this period of time (1950-1980), people of color began to organize and fight (in the streets, in the schools, and in the courts) for equal rights in regards to their children’s education. Without an equal opportunity for a good education–an education that was the same as the kind being provided to white, middle-class children throughout the nation–civil rights leaders and parents knew that their children would not have an equal opportunity for economic mobility and political representation. It was believed by many who participated in these civil rights struggles, that schooling mattered not just to the success and viability of democracy, but to the national guarantee of equal opportunity regardless of race, sex or creed.
Use the film and readings for your quotes and references. Each question/prompt should be no less than 300 words. You must use all of assigned materials to answer the questions. The better able you are to weave together the materials in your answers the higher your grade will be. Simply picking quotes and jamming them into a paragraph will not return a positive result. Your answers should be analytical, interpretive, and probing as opposed to simply descriptive and superficial.
Explain how racial and ethnic segregation was rationalized by white segregationists during this time. Pay specific attention to the experiences of Mexican Americans. How is segregation rationalized today?
Explain the court’s argument in Brown vs. Board of Education for rejecting these rationalizations and why do you think schools have remained segregated?
What are the benefits to democracy of a public school that integrates children from various racial, ethnic and economic groups?
Why are there so few teachers/professors of color and how did the Brown decision help shape this disparity?
How has the Inclusion/Critical Disability movement used the Brown decision to support its agenda?
All questions need direct quotes & have to be at at least 300 words. dont worry about formatting too much. Please only use the resources provided.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/education/2024/05/16/brown-v-board-turns-70-school-segregation-persists/73243509007/
https://www.propublica.org/article/camden-alabama-segregated-schools-brown-v-board
https://cardozolawreview.com/revisiting-the-disability-integration-presumption/#:~:text=In%20the%20landmark%20Brown%20v,483%2C%20495%20(1954) ONLY THE FIRST 4 PARAGRAPHS.
