The roots of racism still persist in the contemporary society of the United States of America. From the police shooting of black people to the usual racism on the streets, it manifests in systematic inequalities. Under slavery, African Americans could not even exercise their fundamental rights. Even after Congress passed the 13th Amendment (abolish slavery, 1865), black people continued to suffer at the hands of white power structures—racial discrimination impacted generation after generation of black families. The segregation greatly affected the Southern part of America compared to the Northern. The black community continued suffering discrimination and segregation despite the Emancipation Proclamation. The South experienced more adverse effects of segregation and Jim Crow laws compared to other parts of the states. It included all kinds of segregation- from segregated toilets to segregated classrooms and schools. The literacy rate in the black community was never high, as during early times, they did not have the right to any education. Even Later, after the segregation laws, black children were given access to schools with fewer resources, facilities, and textbook materials. White schools exercised all their rights and had abundant resources, resulting in higher literacy rates. This segregation later led to a landmark case in America, Brown v. The Board of Education. It declared laws establishing the doctrine of "Equal but Separate." The consequences of this discrimination led to the American civil rights movement in the mid-1950s and lasted till the late 1960s. The movement stood against this racial discrimination and included all aspects detrimenting the African-American community.
The "Equal but Separate" doctrine had significant drawbacks even when segregation promised equality. Moreover, it did not persecute in equal ways. Segregation of these schools influenced the African-American children, their prospects, and experiences. Chief Justice Earl Warren argued against the doctrine of "Equal but Separate" as Brown v. The Board of Education is rooted in inequality, and this inequality violates equal protection as stated in the Fourteenth Amendment (Constitution of the United States of America).
What is the Fourteenth Amendment?
Passed by the Senate on June 8, 1866, and ratified two years later, on July 9, 1868, the Fourteenth Amendment granted citizenship to all persons" born or naturalized in the United States," including formerly enslaved people. It provided all citizens with "equal protection under the laws," extending the provisions of the Bill of Rights to the states. The Amendment authorized the government to punish states that abridged citizens' right to vote by proportionally reducing their representation in Congress. (Landmark legislation: The Fourteenth Amendment)
Additionally, Warren argued on the impact of this segregation on the children from African-American families. The segregation deprives them of their fundamental educational rights but also psychologically affects them. Segregation leads to the adoption of inferiority in black children, which ultimately leads to the deterioration of the self-esteem of masses of black children. It doesn't matter if schools operate on the "Equal but Separate" notion —it is unconstitutional. Equality does not mean equality through discrimination; instead, equality means equal rights. Even in contemporary times and years later, black students are still facing discrimination and low self-esteem in non-segregated schools of the 21st Century.
Aftermath of Segregation in the Modern Times
"I stopped loving myself because I realized the community did not love who I actually was," one student said. (Black students experience trauma from racist incidents at school, experts say)
Saama Sane from Massachusetts reported, in an interview with NBC News, while sitting in the library, a white child repeatedly addressed him with the N-word. This word infuriated Saama, and he started insulting the white child, which led to a physical assault on Saama. This incident made Saama feel suffocated in the school environment and unable to seek the school experience of other children.
Moreover, Students enrolled in Stony Brook, an elite private high school in Massachusetts, created a public Instagram account (@BlackAtStony) where black students shared their stories of racial discrimination and its effect on them.
A study done by US Today studied 900 College yearbooks. The investigation disclosed numerous "pictures of students dressed Ku Klux Klan robes and blackface, nooses and mock lynchings, displays of racism not hidden but memorialized as jokes to laugh about later" (Murphy, 2019, pp. A1, 4, & 5).
Even years after, in the times of modernity, black students face discrimination at the hands of white power structures. Thus, the ultimate challenge lies in recognizing that even after the removal of physical segregation, black students feel segregated in educational institutes.
The persistence of racism in the United States, particularly in the education system, is a deeply concerning issue. The historical roots of segregation and discrimination have had lasting impacts on the African-American community, affecting generations. The landmark case of Brown v. The Board of Education highlighted the inherent inequality in the "Equal but Separate" doctrine, emphasizing that true equality does not arise from segregation.
It's disheartening to see that, even in contemporary times, black students continue to face discrimination, impacting their self-esteem and overall educational experience. The incidents of racial slurs, physical assaults, and the creation of platforms like @BlackAtStony underscore the ongoing challenges in fostering a truly inclusive and equal educational environment.
Addressing these issues requires a comprehensive and…
I really enjoyed reading your blog and I found it to be extremely insightful. Personally I think what struck me most was the discussion around the lingering psychological impact of the 'Equal but Separate' doctrine. It is disheartening to learn that policies designed decades ago still echo in the education system, and still are affecting the self-esteem and educational opportunities of African American students. This point underscores the complex nature of racism as something that is not just a matter of policy change but also of changing the societal attitudes that fuel discrimination. Your blog also made me think about the role of education in perpetuating or challenging racial stereotypes, as it is clear that the educational content that students…
Yes, It is similar to the apartheid in South Africa. However, I do not know much about it, but Emaan wrote her article on it; it is well-written ad researched. Do give it a read! Sharing the link below: https://www.mediapolicyproject.com/post/the-tragedy-of-apartheid-education-in-south-africa
Now, coming to your question, You've made a compelling argument. It is undeniable that class problems, such as the denigration and "othering" of indigenous elites, plagued many colonial nations. However, there was a difference in how much they did it. These differences may have resulted from variables such as the degree of colonization, resistance tactics, the characteristics of the colonizers, and even post-colonial governance. Isn't history just a complex web?
I found the discussion on the "Equal but Separate" doctrine and Chief Justice Earl Warren's critique particularly interesting because it highlights the constitutional violation of equality when segregation is endorsed, emphasizing that true equality extends beyond mere physical separation. I especially believe the focus on the psychological impact of segregation on black children, leading to a deterioration of self-esteem, adds a crucial dimension to the conversation. es.
Love your blog, it instantly reminded me of how discrimination and racism still exists despite all the laws that that have been passed. This reminded me of the power and empowerment reading that we did, the whole promotion of the ideology that blacks were savages and inferior was done through power structures and to gain control and power over the lands of the blacks and to gain control over the blacks as well. In this way, power was also used to deliberately keep the blacks on the bottom of the social hierarchy that does not outwardly exist but is present. Your point about how the black people were given less education, also takes me back to another reading we did…