The Problem We All Live With - Part One

By Nikole Hannah-Jones (click name for video access)

My TAL Integration Chart with Discussion Questions

This video gripped me as Nikole shared a key issue in our nation's education system...possibly one of the most significant plights to still exist to this day. This notion of "school integration," rather than segregation, has been tried and tested, with corresponding results that show increases in achievement for Blacks. I could picture a clear image of some of those infuriated parents, who stood up on their soapbox at that Board meeting held to discuss the new transition of Normandy students into Francis Howell, and it just shocked me how outrageous they appeared to be with such intolerance and selfish wishes. And this scene couldn't have possibly only occurred at this school, on this day. I appreciated when she reiterated "This is what happened in cities all over. With Brown vs. Board of Education, we as a nation decided that segregated schooling violated the constitutional rights of Black children" (timestamp 34:45). So how could these situations of adversity still be happening??? The data clearly shows that court-ordered integration has changed the lives of Blacks! They are less likely to end up in poverty, have fewer health problems and live longer than segregated Blacks. These are FACTS! You cannot fight the facts. 

I recall when Dr. Bogad told us to use the strategy of "What? So What? Now What?" and I just keep thinking....so now what? If we know giving these school districts of predominantly Black students the ability for integration in the same facilities with high quality access WORKS, and will provide them with true equal opportunities as Whites, why aren't we doing this? And an even better question...are we getting more comfortable exposing who the "we" is in this predicament? I quote Lisa Delpit again, in her culture of power, as she states "those with power are frequently least aware of its existence" and this connected me right when Nikole was interviewing the Superintendent of Normandy Schools, Charles Pearson. He was trying to create "turnaround" at the school for the "4000 Black kids" with very idealistic goals that seemed too good to be true. But the fact of the matter is, no matter what interventions or school reforms are initiated, the true essence of racial equality will still cease to exist. Unless we break the stereotypes, and integrate the schools, we can't effect true change in this way. And the way Nikole Hannah-Jones crafted such a captivating story, with breakdown into a scene distribution like a Play was beautifully done. It kept the story personal and alive with emotion and expression, and gave me greater insight and perspective into the minds of those students and families, such as Nidra and Mahria, affected by the transition between the two schools and unwelcoming nature of those less educated on the facts. 

Here is an extremely current article (from today, in fact!) that shows there are parents who STILL are not on board with the success of school integration: http://gothamist.com/2019/05/24/school_integration_brooklyn_15.php  (It takes place in Brooklyn, NY.)

One of the quotes that stuck with me from it was “There are going to be privileges that are spread out more,” he said. “That’s the result of equity.”

And he nails it. Because that's exactly why this process of fixing it can't work it until we all acknowledge the privilege that is in the way.

Another great resource I came across in the wizardry of the internet is called Integrated Schools: Families Choosing Integration, a grassroots movement website of families willing to make changes to the status quo of racial inequality in the school system as it currently runs. It has a great video explaining things on the main page as well as a blog too! Link to website!