The implications of segregation in Memphis looms large for
the city today. Segregation in the South was essential to maintain white
superiority. Although, Memphis has a population, representing majority African
American the city is still ravaged by the history of segregation. Segregation
during Jim Crow and moving into the Civil Rights Movement has remained status
quo, if not worse for Memphis. Segregation effects neighborhoods and schools. During
Jim Crow, black folk were restricted to certain areas, in which label black
people as unequal to whites. One way in which black folk worked to dismantle
segregation was through education. Only a few hours away, Little Rock attempted
to integrate Central High School; however, the local NAACP thought to attack
segregation in schools with a different method. From Daniel Kiels’ film, Memphis 13, thirteen first graders were
admitted into white schools. These thirteen pioneers paved a way for an increase
in black students in white schools. However, the movement of black students
into white schools was also a reaction to white flight.
In an article by John Lloyd, the writer discusses the optional school system that creates disadvantages for lower income individuals. Memphis is a largely segregated city, and it extends into the public school system. Lloyd says,
In an article by John Lloyd, the writer discusses the optional school system that creates disadvantages for lower income individuals. Memphis is a largely segregated city, and it extends into the public school system. Lloyd says,
Officials at Shelby County Schools will tell everyone that there is no need to start a line multiple days in advance, that 99.9% of barcoded applications are accepted into one of the schools of their choice. Parents that don’t have the means to leave their lives for multiple days will say that the first-come-first-served system of prioritizing applications is a disadvantage to them.
The historical implications of white flight have left areas
in Memphis completely black where it was once white. In places like Detroit,
Cleveland, and Chicago, post-industrialization created poor black communities.
Memphis has experienced the same racist institutions. Today Memphis is still fighting
segregation, especially in the Shelby County School system. The issue over optional
schooling and enrollment display hidden signs of segregation. Lack of access to
information and academic performance continues to make it difficult for black
students to get into optional schools that are commonly white. The access to optional schools attempts to separate higher achieving students from the students who need additional help. The education
system is created to separate black students from white students. As black folk
moved into schools, white families began to leave in search of better work
opportunities. Segregation in schools continues to send false message to black
students that they are not equivalent to whites.
Source: http://wreg.com/2017/07/24/study-memphis-fourth-among-most-segregated-cities/
Source: http://wreg.com/2017/07/24/study-memphis-fourth-among-most-segregated-cities/
The segregation of schools in Memphis has definitely gotten worse, especially considering the merger/demerger mess. The decision that affluent areas made in creating their own school district rather than join Shelby County Schools district, that was once a majority white district but is now majority black, allows these schools to maintain their segregated practices and allowing white people to be the majority of their population. If this would not have been the case, I am sure that many angry white parents would take their frustration out on Facebook and rant about how they do not support this decision. White flight is still something we see today. I read once that many parents make moving decisions based on the conditions of the neighborhood schools. Middle class/elites have the privilege, resources, and money to do such things.
ReplyDeleteChristal, this specific topic has come up quite a few times in a few different classes of mine. This is always such an interesting situation to me that parents must camp outside of a building in the month of February just so their child can attain "quality" education. Consequently, the parents that can afford to camp outside are the ones that are financially secure, because they have the opportunity to take off work to provide such an education for their children. As you said, this is another means of segregation. My Ed Studies professor, Dr. Casey, recently told us that SCS is attempting to change this policy and make the application online. However, this repeats the process once again. The same parents that can camp have access to the internet, while the parents who do not have the luxury to take off work to camp outside do not have the same amount of access to online resources to the same extent the former does. If a parent cannot take time out of work to stand in a line, what makes SCS think that that parent will have the access or time to computers? And once again, SCS will have to address the major segregation within the system in a few years, but inevitably has a cyclical process.
ReplyDeleteI'm not entirely familiar with Memphis public schools, but I imagine that they operate in a similar system to the one I attended in Atlanta. Except for the standing in line part - that seems insane and extremely poorly designed (or perhaps intentionally designed...). I do know that even within individual public schools, "gifted" programs and AP/IB classes implicitly segregate the students even further. Students who make it into gifted programs are privileged kids. They are the students who have support networks and study spaces readily available to them. These programs tend to be visibly whiter than the greater school population, and they lead to segregated peer groups. Growing up, this was a dynamic I never questioned. Looking at it from outside the system, with the historical context and social awareness I now have, it's hard to believe that I ever considered it "Okay." There's no reason why "gifted" kids should get better resources, teachers, and educations than their "nongifted" peers, other than that it saves money. This is just a continuation of the same ""Separate but Equal"" (imagine giant air quotes). We simply don't provide black and underprivileged children with the necessary capital for quality education. We have never provided that capital. It is one of the most pressing failures of our education system - it is intensely underfunded, unevenly funded, and implicitly segregated.
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