Juan Williams tells us "Don't Mourn Brown (vs. Board of Education)"

RE: Yesterday's SCOTUS decision to scrap it.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/29/opinion/29williams.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

June 29, 2007
Op-Ed Contributor
Don’t Mourn Brown v. Board of Education

By JUAN WILLIAMS
Washington

LET us now praise the Brown decision. Let us now bury the Brown decision.

With yesterday’s Supreme Court ruling ending the use of voluntary schemes to create racial balance among students, it is time to acknowledge that Brown’s time has passed. It is worthy of a send-off with fanfare for setting off the civil rights movement and inspiring social progress for women, gays and the poor. But the decision in Brown v. Board of Education that focused on outlawing segregated schools as unconstitutional is now out of step with American political and social realities.

Desegregation does not speak to dropout rates that hover near 50 percent for black and Hispanic high school students. It does not equip society to address the so-called achievement gap between black and white students that mocks Brown’s promise of equal educational opportunity.

And the fact is, during the last 20 years, with Brown in full force, America’s public schools have been growing more segregated — even as the nation has become more racially diverse. In 2001, the National Center for Education Statistics reported that the average white student attends a school that is 80 percent white, while 70 percent of black students attend schools where nearly two-thirds of students are black and Hispanic.

By the early ’90s, support in the federal courts for the central work of Brown — racial integration of public schools — began to rapidly expire. In a series of cases in Atlanta, Oklahoma City and Kansas City, Mo., frustrated parents, black and white, appealed to federal judges to stop shifting children from school to school like pieces on a game board. The parents wanted better neighborhood schools and a better education for their children, no matter the racial make-up of the school. In their rulings ending court mandates for school integration, the judges, too, spoke of the futility of using schoolchildren to address social ills caused by adults holding fast to patterns of residential segregation by both class and race....

He should look into what programs like Metco in the Boston school system are doing. They are in fact succeeding in addressing the systemic class and race segregation that tracks poor students into poor schools where rightwing assholes like Williams can then point and bray: 'bad outcomes! bad outcomes! see!'. Sheesh these guys burn me up.

I am actually in agreement with you, and really angry at the simplistic understanding Williams has here of the education "market".

responded to wrong post

...and those need to be addressed.

and after 20 years kennedy finally admitted busing failed. The suburbs chose METCO over busing. It was how they got around keeping their children local to their schools while providing opportunity for those who academically deserved it.

And you might be surprised to know that while the senator has been around almost forever, he has never actually been governor of the state, nor controlled any state operations such as busing of students. The south boston busing problem was a result of a court order to integrate the segregated south boston school district, it came from and was directed by the courts, not the federal legislature, not ted kennedy.

Metco is an example of how race-specific targeted admissions programs can address structural racism and can deal with exactly the false issue that Williams raises - the poor outcomes of nominally desegregated inner city schools. Metco is at risk because of yesterday's ruling.

since 1966. I was a part of the boston busing. It was not just south boston. It was most of boston and cambridge, mattapan, Dorchester.... Kennedy was behind busing and it took MA over 25 years to realize this wasn't working. Yes it was a court ordered by Judge Garrity who also became the most hated man in Boston.

Surrounding towns welcomed METCO as it allowed their children to stay local. Winchester, back in the 70s refused METCO and went with ABC ( A better chance). This was were the town shipped and housed minorities mostly from the south to come to our town to go to school.

And the food in the main house really isn't what you have heard, so go back to your slave quarters willingly.

Wonder what they pay him to betray his race.

His new book is coming out soon...."Up on the Porch, with Juan Williams"....Check it out...should be a good read.

It seems whenever an AA is successful, but their opinion is not of your likening they become Uncle Toms?
Condoleeza Rice is a perfect example. You don't have to agree with her ideas or ideology, but for heaven sakes respect her struggle, admire her accomplishments.

Condoleezza Rice (born November 14, 1954) is the 66th United States Secretary of State, and the second in the administration of President George W. Bush to hold the office. Rice is the first African American woman, second African American (after Colin Powell, who served before her from 2001 - 2005), and second woman (after Madeleine Albright who served from 1997 to 2001, before Colin Powell) to serve as Secretary of State.


There is so much hate on this board that sometimes it makes me dizzy. If you don't think like me or act like me you shouldn't be here. God I miss the liberals of yesterday

and castigates that decision is a self serving hypocrite. Rice, who experienced racial discrimination first hand growing up, has continued to express her support for affirmative action. Williams, who probably had a less direct exposure to aparthied in america, has simply turned his back on african americans and deserves the outrage expressed here. On the other hand Rice is a war criminal of the first rank while Williams is just a propagandist.

viewed in that context.

Quote

"during the last 20 years, with Brown in full force, America’s public schools have been growing more segregated"

Now what happened about 20 years ago to the leadership of the Executive Branch of the Federal government? To what extent do you think "Saint Ronnie" cared about desegregation? Do you think a political party scoring points over Willie Horton is appealing to the desire for a racially harmonious society?

No, it isn't Brown that has become irrelevant - it is the politics of race hatred that put the Republicans in power 20 years ago that has caused this setback.

BTW, it is amazing how declines in various social indices began right around 1980 - relative lifespan, infant mortality, income inequality, etc.

Coincidence?

I think his comment should read:

"Support for progressive social programs declined under the unrelenting attack of opportunistic right wing politicians. By appealing to the populace's baser instincts, a corporate agenda was installed, having the long term effect of impoverishing the very people that voted it in. Suckers."

As far as I understand it.

going to be told by the MSM that it didn't.

Let us now count the RW talking points (many of which I've already seen on DU):

DING:
The federal No Child Left Behind plan has many critics, but there’s no denying that it is an effective tool for forcing teachers’ unions and school administrators to take responsibility for educating poor and minority students.
Watch how often the phrases "teachers' unions" and "school administrators" pops up in the next few weeks.

DING:
Racial malice is no longer the primary motive in shaping inferior schools for minority children. Many failing big city schools today are operated by black superintendents and mostly black school boards.
The way overused word "many." Yes, Juan, point me to one--ANY one.

DING:

With Brown officially relegated to the past, the challenge for brave leaders now is to deliver on the promise of a good education for every child.

In other words, SCOTUS overturned Brown--regardless of how the RW and the easily led will try to convince us it wasn't.

"With Brown relegated to the past..."

Scary words.

while we're at it, why don't we find out what alan keys is saying about this decision?

juan, you're irrelevant
no one cares about your vapid pseudo-analysis
:argh:

You are a fucking idiot. And apparently you are too young to remember what schools were really like before desegregation.

I mean, aside from his Faux check, his Bushevik group-speaking fees, and his Heritage and Olin checks?

Is he taking direct payments from the govt. (OUR tax money) as did Armstrong WEilliams.

I mean, they got caught doing it a few years ago, but you know the Busheviks. They NEVER accept being caught or stopped and they almost always find ways around to do exactly what they wanted to in the first place.

But I will say he does make some valid points, but most of what he says is the most outrageously insulting (to the intelligence, but then what isn;t that is written or spoken for Loyal Bushie consumption?) spin I have ever read.

Like this:

And the fact is, during the last 20 years, with Brown in full force, America’s public schools have been growing more segregated — even as the nation has become more racially diverse. In 2001, the National Center for Education Statistics reported that the average white student attends a school that is 80 percent white, while 70 percent of black students attend schools where nearly two-thirds of students are black and Hispanic.

That completely ignores the aspect of white flight to private schools, which is a HUGE component of that statistic, perhaps the primary component. But Juan flips it make it seem as if somehow Brown had done the opposite as it intended. Intellectual dishonesty in the EXTREME.

And par for the course when dealing with a paid propagandist.