White school segregation

Date and country of first publication

2014
United States

Definition

White school segregation, also known as white-only schools or all-white schools, refers to the practice of segregating schools based on race, specifically excluding students of color and allowing only white students to attend. This practice was prevalent in the United States during the era of racial segregation, particularly in the South, from the late 19th century until the mid-20th century.

White school segregation was a result of Jim Crow laws and the "separate but equal" doctrine that was established by the U.S. Supreme Court in the 1896 case of Plessy v. Ferguson. These laws and doctrine allowed for the legal separation of races in public facilities, including schools. In practice, however, the facilities and resources provided to white schools were often far superior to those provided to schools for Black students.

White school segregation was finally challenged in the landmark 1954 Supreme Court case of Brown v. Board of Education, where the Court ruled that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. This ruling declared that "separate educational facilities are inherently unequal," and called for the desegregation of schools.

However, despite this ruling, desegregation efforts faced significant opposition, and progress towards integration was slow in many areas. It wasn't until the 1960s and 1970s, with the Civil Rights Movement and the implementation of federal policies like busing, that substantial desegregation efforts began to take place.

Today, white school segregation is illegal and unconstitutional in the United States. Public schools are required to provide equal educational opportunities to all students, regardless of their race or ethnicity. However, de facto segregation still exists in many school districts due to residential patterns and socioeconomic disparities. Efforts to address and reduce racial segregation in schools continue to be a topic of debate and concern in the United States.

Related segregation forms

White school segregation is frequently discussed in the literature with the following segregation forms:

hispanic residential segregation

For the complete network of associated segregation forms, see:

clusters https://tinyurl.com/2d8wg5n3 

year of publication https://tinyurl.com/2235lkhw 

betweenness centrality https://tinyurl.com/223udk5r 

disciplines where segregation forms first appeared https://tinyurl.com/244d8unz 

Notes

At its current state, this definition has been generated by a Large Language Model (LLM) so far without review by an independent researcher or a member of the curating team of segregation experts that keep the Segregation Wiki online. While we strive for accuracy, we cannot guarantee its reliability, completeness and timeliness. Please use this content with caution and verify information as needed. Also, feel free to improve on the definition as you see fit, including the use of references and other informational resources. We value your input in enhancing the quality and accuracy of the definitions of segregation forms collectively offered in the Segregation Wiki ©.

White school segregation appears in the following literature

Reardon S.F., Owens A. (2014). 60 years after brown: Trends and consequences of school segregation. Annual Review of Sociology, 40(), 199-218. Annual Reviews Inc..https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-soc-071913-043152

Rich P., Candipan J., Owens A. (2021). Segregated neighborhoods, segregated schools: Do charters break a stubborn link?. Demography, 58(2), 471-498. Duke University Press.https://doi.org/10.1215/00703370-9000820