Economic opportunity in the 20th century was very much tied to racial equity. With Brown v. Board of Education ending "separate but equal," we have spent more than 50 years focusing on bussing programs, racial equity in college admissions, and to a larger extent race as a determining factor in economic opportunity in America. Initially, this policy enabled people of color to access institutions of learning that balanced educational attainment and access to jobs in our country. Now, with policies specifically focusing on college access for top high school performers, we have inadvertently created a system that is color blind, but supports the advance of the most wealthy students in our system.
The 21st century demands a new perspective on securing economic opportunity. Certainly, the legacy of slavery blurred the lines between race and class in 20th century America, but now -- more than ever -- class seems to be a stronger determinant of success in the classroom and in society. Rather than reinforce racial lines (barriers) and reward only those most financially capable of succeeding, it seems high time to really re-examine the role of class in our society. As our world becomes more globalized, fewer and fewer students identify with only one racial group. Instead, a more useful determining factor for being a high-risk student these days is household income (or the proxy: "do you are someone in your home receive free or reduced price lunches?").
It is important for us to level the playing field for all American youth by dismantling our current system that concentrates poverty. Or worse, a system that continually closes schools in lower-income neighborhoods. Wake County, NC has taken a bold step forward to building a school system in which "none of the 159 schools in Raleigh and its suburbs have more than 40% of its student body eleigible for free or reduced-price lunch." ("Districts try to spread out poor students," USA TODAY 11/02/09 )
I think it is high time we re-examine our integration policy to move away from one that re-inforces racial stereotyping toward one that ends of the two-tier educational systems of the rich and the poor.
