A Deep Dive into the Complexities of School Segregation and Integration

On September 29, Texas Appleseed, New York Appleseed, and the Appleseed Foundation teamed up to host another installment in our compelling “Road to Integration” webinar series dedicated to tackling school segregation and integration. Missed the live event? No worries—the full recording is embedded above for your convenience.

Expert Perspective

The discussion was helmed by Cashauna Hill, Executive Director of The Redress Movement, a Black-led organization aimed at empowering communities to combat racial segregation and R. L’Heureux Lewis-McCoy, an Associate Professor at New York University specializing in the Sociology of Education. Prof. Lewis-McCoy critically examines how educational resources are hoarded and is the author of “Inequality in the Promised Land,” a book that explores persistent inequality in integrated schools.

The panel was expertly moderated by Andrew Hairston of Texas Appleseed.

Key Takeaways

1. Land Use and Segregation: Hill and Prof. Lewis-McCoy provided comprehensive insights into how housing policies have been designed to perpetuate school segregation.

2. Resource Inequality: The panel addressed the racial dynamics behind policy decisions leading to uneven resource distribution between white and non-white communities.

3. Promising Tools: Both experts discussed the potential and limitations of various strategies aimed at achieving more equitable housing and schools.
4. Historical Context: The upcoming anniversaries of Brown v. Board and Columbine were considered as potential catalysts for reinvigorating national dialogue on school integration.

5. Racial Justice Integration: The discussion emphasized the need for integrating school desegregation goals into broader racial justice campaigns.

Townhall-style Audience Participation

An especially thought-provoking moment arose when Olga, an online attendee, inquired about the ramifications for Black and Latino/a families who are “left behind” when others utilize school choice options like relocation or vouchers.

What’s Next?

Keep an eye out for our next webinar in this critical “Road to Integration” series, as we continue to explore the many facets of school segregation and integration. Our next webinar will cover the modern methods for upholding school segregation and ways we can combat them.