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The Battle Over School Integration In Mississippi 1870 - 1980

Chuck Mitchell

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The Hardest Deal of All: The Battle Over School Integration in Mississippi, 1870-1980

by Charles C. Bolton

4.3 out of 5

Language	:	English
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Print length	:	301 pages

The battle for school integration in Mississippi was a long and arduous one. It began in 1870, when the state's new constitution promised equal educational opportunities for all children, regardless of race. However, this promise was not fulfilled. For decades, black children were denied access to quality schools, and they were often forced to attend segregated schools that were inferior to white schools.

In 1954, the Supreme Court ruled in Brown v. Board of Education that school segregation was unconstitutional. This decision was a major victory for the Civil Rights Movement, and it led to the desegregation of schools across the country. However, in Mississippi, resistance to school integration was fierce. White supremacists used violence and intimidation to prevent black children from attending white schools.

In 1962, James Meredith became the first black student to enroll at the University of Mississippi. His enrollment was met with rioting and violence, and federal troops were called in to restore order. The Meredith case was a turning point in the Civil Rights Movement, and it helped to pave the way for school integration in Mississippi.

In 1964, Congress passed the Civil Rights Act, which outlawed discrimination in public accommodations, employment, and education. This law helped to further desegregate schools in Mississippi, but resistance continued. In 1967, Medgar Evers, a leading civil rights activist, was assassinated in Mississippi. His death sent shockwaves throughout the country and helped to galvanize support for the Civil Rights Movement.

In 1968, the Kerner Commission issued a report on the causes of the 1967 Detroit riots. The report found that racial inequality was a major factor in the riots, and it called for increased efforts to achieve racial justice. In response to the Kerner Commission report, Congress passed the Fair Housing Act, which outlawed discrimination in housing. This law helped to further desegregate schools in Mississippi, as it made it easier for black families to move into white neighborhoods.

By the early 1970s, most schools in Mississippi had been desegregated. However, resistance to school integration continued in some areas. In 1970, the Supreme Court ruled in Alexander v. Holmes County Board of Education that school districts could not use busing to achieve racial balance. This decision made it more difficult to desegregate schools in districts where there was a large black population.

In 1975, the Supreme Court ruled in Milliken v. Bradley that school districts could not be ordered to desegregate schools across district lines. This decision made it more difficult to desegregate schools in districts that were divided by racial lines.

Despite the Supreme Court's rulings, schools in Mississippi continued to be segregated in many areas. In 1980, the Supreme Court ruled in Columbus Board of Education v. Penick that school districts could not use race as a factor in assigning students to schools. This decision made it even more difficult to desegregate schools in Mississippi.

The battle for school integration in Mississippi was a long and arduous one. It took decades of struggle and sacrifice to overcome the resistance of white supremacists and achieve equal educational opportunities for all children. The legacy of the Civil Rights Movement continues to inspire us today, and it reminds us that the fight for justice is never over.

Key Events in the Battle for School Integration in Mississippi

1870: The state's new constitution promises equal educational opportunities for all children, regardless of race.
1954: The Supreme Court rules in Brown v. Board of Education that school segregation is unconstitutional.
1962: James Meredith becomes the first black student to enroll at the University of Mississippi.
1964: Congress passes the Civil Rights Act, which outlaws discrimination in public accommodations, employment, and education.
1967: Medgar Evers, a leading civil rights activist, is assassinated in Mississippi.
1968: The Kerner Commission issues a report on the causes of the 1967 Detroit riots, and calls for increased efforts to achieve racial justice.
1970: The Supreme Court rules in Alexander v. Holmes County Board of Education that school districts cannot use busing to achieve racial balance.
1975: The Supreme Court rules in Milliken v. Bradley that school districts cannot be ordered to desegregate schools across district lines.
1980: The Supreme Court rules in Columbus Board of Education v. Penick that school districts cannot use race as a factor in assigning students to schools.

Key Figures in the Battle for School Integration in Mississippi

James Meredith: The first black student to enroll at the University of Mississippi.
Medgar Evers: A leading civil rights activist who was assassinated in Mississippi.
Aaron Henry: A civil rights leader who helped to organize the Mississippi Freedom Summer.
Fannie Lou Hamer: A civil rights activist who was a key figure in the Mississippi Freedom Summer.

The Hardest Deal of All: The Battle Over School Integration in Mississippi, 1870-1980

by Charles C. Bolton

4.3 out of 5