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The Battle Over School Integration In Mississippi 1870 1980

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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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The struggle for school integration in Mississippi was a protracted and often violent chapter in the American Civil Rights Movement. From the Reconstruction era to the modern civil rights era, Mississippi was a battleground for the fight to end segregation in public schools.

This article will provide a comprehensive overview of the battle over school integration in Mississippi, from the early efforts of Reconstruction to the landmark Supreme Court ruling in Brown v. Board of Education and the subsequent decades of resistance and progress.

Reconstruction and the First Attempts at School Integration

Reconstruction Era School In Mississippi The Hardest Deal Of All: The Battle Over School Integration In Mississippi 1870 1980

Following the Civil War and the abolition of slavery, the Reconstruction era (1865-1877) saw the first attempts to integrate schools in Mississippi. The Freedmen's Bureau, established by the federal government, played a key role in setting up schools for African American children.

However, these efforts faced stiff resistance from white supremacists, who were determined to maintain segregation. They used violence and intimidation to prevent African American children from attending white schools.

The Rise of Jim Crow Laws

Jim Crow Sign The Hardest Deal Of All: The Battle Over School Integration In Mississippi 1870 1980

With the end of Reconstruction, segregation became entrenched in Mississippi through a system of Jim Crow laws. These laws mandated the separation of races in all public facilities, including schools.

Jim Crow laws effectively legalized segregation and made it virtually impossible for African American children to attend white schools. They also created a system of inferior education for African Americans, with overcrowded and underfunded schools.

Challenges to Segregation in the Early 20th Century

Despite the Jim Crow laws, there were a handful of challenges to segregation in the early 20th century. In 1935, the NAACP filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Mississippi's segregated school system.

However, the case was dismissed by the Supreme Court, which ruled that segregation was legal as long as the facilities provided for each race were equal. This decision, known as the "separate but equal" doctrine, would continue to uphold segregation for several decades.

Brown v. Board of Education and the Modern Civil Rights Era

Brown V. Board Of Education Supreme Court Ruling The Hardest Deal Of All: The Battle Over School Integration In Mississippi 1870 1980

The modern civil rights era began with the landmark Supreme Court ruling in Brown v. Board of Education in 1954. In a unanimous decision, the Court overturned the "separate but equal" doctrine and declared that segregation in public schools was unconstitutional.

Brown v. Board of Education was a major victory for the civil rights movement and marked the beginning of the end of segregation in American schools.

Resistance to School Integration in Mississippi

Mississippi was one of the states most resistant to school integration. White supremacists, led by Governor Ross Barnett, vowed to defy the Supreme Court ruling and maintain segregation.

In 1957, President Eisenhower sent federal troops to Little Rock, Arkansas, to enforce the integration of Central High School. However, in Mississippi, resistance to integration continued for several more years.

The Meredith March and the Murder of Medgar Evers

Meredith March The Hardest Deal Of All: The Battle Over School Integration In Mississippi 1870 1980

In 1962, James Meredith, an African American student, enrolled at the University of Mississippi with the help of federal marshals. This event sparked the Meredith March, a series of protests that led to violence and the death of NAACP field secretary Medgar Evers.

The Meredith March and the murder of Medgar Evers highlighted the deep-seated resistance to school integration in Mississippi and the willingness of white supremacists to use violence to maintain segregation.

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the End of Legal Segregation

Civil Rights Act Of 1964 The Hardest Deal Of All: The Battle Over School Integration In Mississippi 1870 1980

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a landmark piece of legislation that outlawed segregation in public facilities and employment. It also gave the federal government the power to enforce school integration.

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 finally ended the legal basis for segregation in Mississippi and other states. However, resistance to integration continued in some areas, including Mississippi.

Progress and Setbacks in the Post-Civil Rights Era

In the years following the Civil Rights Act of 1964, there was slow but steady progress towards school integration in Mississippi. However, there were also setbacks and instances of white resistance.

In 1970, the Supreme Court Free Downloaded the desegregation of all public schools in Mississippi. However, some school districts resisted the Free Download and continued to operate segregated schools.

In the 1990s, there was a resurgence of white supremacy in Mississippi, and several all-white private schools were established. These schools were seen as a way to maintain segregation and avoid integration.

The battle over school integration in Mississippi was a long and difficult struggle. From the early efforts of Reconstruction to the modern civil rights era, African Americans faced resistance and violence in their quest for equal educational opportunities.

The Supreme Court ruling in Brown v. Board of Education was a major victory for the civil rights movement and marked the beginning of the end of segregation in American schools.

However, resistance to integration continued in Mississippi for several years after Brown v. Board of Education. It was only through the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the efforts of civil rights activists that school integration was finally achieved in Mississippi.

Today, Mississippi's public schools are integrated, but the legacy of segregation continues to shape the state's educational system. There are still significant disparities in educational outcomes between white and African American students, and the state's all-white private schools are a reminder of the resistance to integration that once existed.

The battle over school integration in Mississippi is a complex and multifaceted story. It is a story of struggle, resistance, and triumph. It is also a story that is still relevant today, as we continue to grapple with the legacy of racism in America.

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

by Charles C. Bolton

4.3 out of 5