Segregation academy

Central Delta Academy, Inverness, MS

Stonewall Jackson Academy (Florence, SC) 1970 Advertisement

Segregation academies are private schools in the United States that were established by white parents to avoid racial integration following the landmark 1954 Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education, which declared state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students to be unconstitutional. These academies were part of a larger series of resistance efforts known as "Massive Resistance" against the desegregation of public schools. They provided an avenue for white parents to continue segregating their children from black students under the guise of providing a private education.

History

The rise of segregation academies occurred predominantly in the Southern states, where opposition to school desegregation was most vehement. Following the Brown v. Board of Education decision, many white Southerners sought alternatives to public schools that were being integrated. By the late 1950s and early 1960s, hundreds of these private schools had been established, particularly in states like Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana. These schools were often subsidized by tuition grants from the state, which were a means to circumvent the federal mandate for desegregation.

Characteristics

Segregation academies were characterized by their exclusionary admissions policies. While they rarely stated explicitly that they were established to maintain racial segregation, their enrollment practices made it clear. These schools would often require references from current families or alumni for new students, conduct interviews with prospective families, and have selective admissions criteria that disproportionately excluded black students.

Impact

The establishment of segregation academies had a significant impact on the educational landscape in the South. It led to a dual system of education where white students could attend private schools with better resources and facilities, while black students and those who could not afford private education remained in underfunded public schools. This exacerbated educational inequalities and racial segregation, effects of which are still felt today.

Legal and Social Responses

Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, segregation academies were the subject of legal challenges and public criticism. Courts increasingly found that these schools violated civil rights laws, especially when they received public funding. Social attitudes towards segregation academies have also shifted over time, with many such institutions either closing, integrating, or distancing themselves from their segregationist pasts.

Contemporary Relevance

While the number of segregation academies has significantly decreased, the legacy of these institutions persists. Discussions about school choice, charter schools, and educational inequality often echo the debates surrounding segregation academies. Moreover, some schools that were once segregation academies still operate today, though they may now have racially diverse student bodies and have publicly renounced their origins.

See Also

• Brown v. Board of Education
• Massive Resistance
• Civil Rights Movement
• Private education in the United States
• Educational inequality in the United States

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