Niyah Goco

Mrs.Mckiddy

PreAp English

Period 5

Segregation Argument Essay

Segregation was officially called illegal in 1954. In 1955 segregation in busses also

became illegal. These laws have been made over 60 years ago, so why is segregation still

relevant? The truth is, it’s our fault. The government has done all they can to end it, now it is

up to us. The government has stopped segregation, and we still permit it. People from all over

are suffering from unequal and unfair results of this issue. In order to give minorities and even

ourselves a fighting chance to improve our academics, lessen poverty, and reduce crime, we

must completely eliminate segregation, and that starts with our us.

Academics in segregated schools with mostly black students have small

achievements. Schools in wealthier regions, which are predominantly populated with white

students, are thriving with resources like books, technology, sports, safety, and more qualified

teachers. Black and latino schools don’t have such a luxury. They suffer from unqualified

teachers, no updated books, limits in technology and more. This causes them to drop out or

fail classes which keeps crime rates high and their money and safety low. In the article

“Forced Bussing Didn’t Fail” by George Theoharis, it states that at an All black and latino

school, no one passed the state math assessment. Yet at an 88 percent white school, 50

percent of students passed the assessment, which goes to show that our chosen separation

of communities caused this. This shows the effects segregated schools have on children.

Another reason why divided areas are a problem is because it causes more poverty which
increases crime rate. For example, Detroit has one of the highest crime rates in America.

Crime rate is 2,050 every 100,000 people. There are about 700,00 people living in the city,

this means there are approximately, and over, 15,000 people committing criminal offenses.

Not to mention, about 40% of people living in detroit are poor and 10% unemployed. Detroit is

also very segregated, blacks live in the most dangerous and unwealthy parts and whites live

on a completely different side, which is shown on dot maps that clearly present the reality of

separation.

The government can only do so much. They have created laws making segregation

illegal even and created bussing to integrate schools. But somehow America is still divided.

The heavy reason for this is communities. Groups of people have moved away to certain

places, making their own establishments and school. This was usually the wealthier and more

financially stable people that left. They clustered in particular areas creating competition for

surrounding areas. Resulting in these people to flourish and the people in minority areas to be

left behind. In the film “Racial Segregation in American Schools, Return to the 1960s” from

News Channel 4, a black girl who is successful in her academics and sports, went to an all

black school, and for college, she wants to attend an all black university. So it is not just

whites who are causing segregation. People from both sides must take action to integrate and

compromise. If one has the chance to move somewhere to bring yourself and others together,

you must take it in order to help. We need you.

You may not see any problems going on with segregation. Some say we have bigger

issues. Maybe gender equality, or hunger in America? These issues both persist with one

thing, segregation. Whites, particularly, in more industrialized or suburbanized places have

more opportunities and resources. Women have higher pay rates and are more likely to get

better education and employment. Giving them more respect and options. In black and latino
neighborhoods and towns, women are more dependent or don’t have the same range of

options as people in white areas. Not getting paid as much which causes them and others to

have no other option but to stay and not integrate. Also, since black and Latino areas are

separated from white areas or richer areas, they suffer more from poverty. Now, if our

communities where to combine, there would be a balance. There would be more schools,

more opportunities for both sides, more resources, less crime, and less discrimination. We

would learn more from each other and improve our country. Learning from each other’s

cultures and different experiences will educated us more and bring less conflict to the country

and unify it.

To truly end segregation we must sponsor it. We must take action and integrate.

Bringing communities and businesses together, reevaluating school systems, and bring

schools boards and districts together are all ways to improve mixed populations instead of

divided groups. This is extremely important to benefit the lives of people in America and other

countries and to lessen conflict and mostly to make the world a better and safer place.