Thursday, September 07, 2006

Today In American His-story


September 7, 1954 - Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, Md., public schools integrated.

Today:

We have a public school system in Washington, D.C. that is
84.6% Black and 4.5% White/non-Hispanic. In Baltimore the numbers are similar.

Baltimore City:

87.5% Black
10.8% White/non-Hispanic

Intergration? Am I missing something?

source: National Center For Education Statistics
photo: Suprememe Court Bldg in Washington, D.C. / by: S Bess
Model: Thomas Bess

11 comments:

Friday Dialogue said...

What's really interesting is that DC is far less black than when I lived there (left in 1997) which means the segregation is far worse.

Stephen A. Bess said...

dance-
Yes, I saw those stats for Detroit as well. Detroit's school system citywide is 91.0% black, 4.1%latino, and 3.7%white/non-hispanic. Yeah, "white flight" is obvious. Thanks!

max-
I agree. I was just thinking about the racial makeup in DC and I came to the conclusion that DC does not have little or no white lower middle class or poor population. I don't have any official stats, but the next time that you're in DC just look around. Thanks!

Toastedsuzy said...

In my small Okie Metropolis we have a wonderful diversity of students in the public schools. Being a military town we get people of all different colors from all over the country, and abroad. And they are all equally screwed.

Oh, but now that I think about it, I guess a lot of the richer, whiter kids do end up going to private schools.

Stephen, I'm so glad that people like you are teachers. YOU are OUR ONLY HOPE!

Stephen A. Bess said...

TS-
Thank you so much. That's a wonderful compliment! I'll do my best once the curtains open. :)

Diversity is a beautiful thing. My community is also diverse(well, once you go up the street). My immediate surroundings are mostly immigrant families from Africa and the Caribbean.

Power to the teacher!

Anonymous said...

Interesting.

The stats you posted has the wheels in my mind turning.

Thanks for this food for thought. I needed something to chew on today.

Oh...by the way. Thomas is handsome, if I must say so myself! =)

the prisoner's wife said...

dont get me started on the public school system. it's week 1 as ms. tpw and i'm already frustrated! i'm calling parents all weekend....cuz these kids need a foot in they @ss.

btw: neighborhood schools aren't really integrated, usually only "special" ones (you know...the ones a few black/latino kids get bused to).

Stephen A. Bess said...

ub-
You're welcome and I'll pass that compliment to Thomas. :)

sumeeta-
Wow! Those are some stats. I think that it's the same in Pennsylvania too. How about Vermont? Integration?

pwife-
Haa haa!! Hang in there Ms. TPW. :)It's going to be smooth sailing around mid October when they get settled. I can't wait to hear your stories.

NML/Natalie said...

I couldn't help but giggle. There is no integration going on there. It's black on black!

Stephen A. Bess said...

nml-
Yeah, DC Schools are straight black. The funny thing is that most are neighborhood schools, but blacks have been long pushed out. So, whites that move into these newly renovated neighborhoods still have to contend with the black students who attend school there. That makes me giggle. :)

Professor Zero said...

Yes it is sort of amazing. And a chicken and egg thing too, I suspect sometimes: did white flight cause schools to be still more poorly funded, or did the de-funding increase the white and general middle class flight, or what ... anyway I too am really glad the schools still have some good teachers like you!

Stephen A. Bess said...

profzero-
I am sure that de-funding played a role in causing some to leave, but since this is America...
I appreciate your compliment. I've had to come to terms with that. I been running for the past 3 years. I didn't want to accept being a teacher, but the classroom is calling me back. :)

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