Chapter 3: Miseducating for Inequity: Fifty Years After Brown

Fifty years of post-Brown research data demonstrates that racism continues to be a problem in schools and society. Forced desegregation of public school systems alone has not solved what appears to be the fundamental problem, institutionalized belief in white superiority and black inferiority. Without a focused assault on racism in public schools and civil society, racism will continue to undermine the noblest intent of Brown, the promotion of the inherent equality of the races and a more equitable distribution of resources and educational opportunity.

James Anderson (1988) captures the essence of educational inequity in the United States when he asserts that the history of education in this country is a story of two competing and contradictory traditions—education for full citizenship and education for second-class citizenship. This dual tradition contrasts sharply with national goals to produce an educated citizenry necessary for a democratic society, and consequently the school system miseducates for inequity. Miseducation is educational discrimination.