educ 142 midterm

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Kristya Froya Educ 142 Professor Goodridge 23 February 2024 Midterm The Supreme Court case, Brown v. The Board of Education, has made a significant impact on the education system in the United States. However, Derek Bell, an African American civil rights activist and Harvard Law Professor, refers to the Brown v. Board of Education decision as a “magnificent mirage.” Bell offers a critical perspective on the decision and its limitations. His criticism highlights the disparities still present in the education system after the implantation of the Supreme Court’s decision. Derek Bell's term "magnificent mirage" suggests that while the Brown v. Board of Education made substantial improvements for racial equality in education, the decision created an illusion of significant progress. This overshadowed and covered up the challenges and limitations in accomplishing genuine desegregation and equal education for African American students. Derek Bell's description of the Brown decision as a "magnificent mirage" accurately describes this decision and its goal of ending racial segregation in schools and the limitations in its implementation, highlighting the ongoing challenges for racial equality in the education system. Bell’s term argues that while the Brown decision is notable in the education system, its implementation did not entirely fulfill its goal of ending racial segregation in schools. The decision was passed without considering the measures needed to achieve racial equality in schools (Goodridge 2023). This lack of reflection highlights how the education system was unprepared and did not put much thought into this system. The Brown decision also acted to

appease African American parents and civil rights supporters (Goodridge 2023). It is crucial to reflect on the intent of this decision and its actual impact on the broader struggle for racial equality in education. Additionally, understanding the disconnect between the intended goals and the outcome of the decision encourages a critical reflection of the systemic barriers that impact the effective implementation of measures to achieve genuine racial desegregation in schools. Bell’s description of the Brown v. Board case is correct as racial segregation in education is still present. The Brown decision had little direct impact on desegregating schools as there was little to no difference in the number of black students attending desegregated schools in the South (Klarman 1994). Many schools in the North and South found ways to evade the desegregation of their schools. It wasn’t till the 1964 Civil Rights Act threatened to take away federal funding did southern black students began attending desegregated schools (Klarman 1994). This emphasizes how the Brown decision alone did not effectively dismantle racial segregation in education. Additionally, segregation in the north was upheld by socioeconomics as it was by clear efforts to divide students (Goodridge 2023). This applies today as many schools are still racially segregated due to socioeconomic differences and segregation in neighborhoods. Schools disadvantaged black students attend are sometimes segregated as they are found in high-poverty neighborhoods distant from middle-class ones (Rothstein 2014). This reveals the barriers in education black students continue to face and the unequal access to education they have despite the passing of the Brown decision. The Brown v. Board decision focused on the legislation required to abolish segregation in schools but did not adequately address the structural issues in education contributing to black and minority students’ unequal access to education. Research has shown that racial segregation has

the largest consequences on student achievement when linked to racial differences in school poverty (Fahle et al. 2020). The CCD reports that black and Latino students are around three times as likely to live in high poverty and 12 times as likely to attend schools where “everyone is poor” (Fahle et al. 2020). This demonstrates how the Brown decision does not address the intersectionality of structural issues such as race and poverty and how it impacts students’ education. In addition, despite the passage of the Brown decision, many disparities remain in educational outcomes between white students and students of color. Segregation in schools is linked to achievement gaps through “racial differences in exposure to school poverty” due to many factors such as lower-quality teachers and higher teacher turnover or shortages (Fahle et al. 2020). It is crucial to acknowledge these issues in order to achieve genuine desegregation and equal access to education for all students. Derek Bell’s description of the Brown v. Board of Education ruling as a "magnificent mirage" is an accurate and effective way to explain the impact of this decision. The Brown ruling had many limitations but remains a landmark case in the education system. Despite the efforts of the Brown decision, many disparities remain in the U.S. education system for racial minority groups. It is crucial to address and dismantle these disparities and advocate for equal access to quality education for all students.

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References Fahle, E.M., Reardon, S.F., Kalogrides, D. et al. Racial Segregation and School Poverty in the United States, 1999–2016. Race Soc Probl 12 , 42–56 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12552-019-09277-w Goodridge, S. (2023). American Education Policy and the World that Changed It. Cognella, Inc.. https://bookshelf.vitalsource.com/books/838991A Klarman, M. J. (1994). The Framer's Coup: The Making of the United States Constitution. The Journal of American History, 81 (1), 81-118. Rothstein, R. The Racial Achievement Gap, Segregated Schools, and Segregated Neighborhoods: A Constitutional Insult. Race Soc Probl 7 , 21–30 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12552-014-9134-1

educ 142 midterm

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