Jim Crow Moves North: The Battle over Northern School Segregation, 1865–1954

Cambridge Historical Studies in American Law and Society

by Davison M. Douglas

Most observers have assumed that school segregation in the United States was exclusively a southern phenomenon. In fact, many northern communities, until recently, engaged in explicit "southern style" school segregation whereby black children were assigned to "colored" schools and white children to white schools. Davison Douglas examines why so many northern communities did engage in school segregation (in violation of state laws that prohibited such segregation) and how northern blacks challenged this illegal activity. He analyzes the competing visions of black empowerment in the northern black community as reflected in the debate over school integration.

Genres: History

346 pages, Paperback

First published October 24, 2005

Reviews

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone who believes the north wasn't/isn't racist should read this book. As soon as African Americans began moving to the northern states en masse, they faced many of the same problems they had in the south. If their treatment wasn't as brutal (although in some cases it was, i.e. the Klan resurgence in Indiana) they still faced the same problems, and this book chronicles the struggles the faced in trying to obtain equal schooling.
One of the most important aspects of this book though is the chapter that deals with the debate among African Americans over whether or not integrated schooling is desirable. An important read for anyone interested in this topic.

[Vicki Scullion · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well-researched non-fiction book about the public education system during the segregation era. Covering the period from the Supreme Court decisions in Plessey v. Ferguson through Brown v. Board of Education, Davison Douglas paints a picture of the enormous inequity between African American and White schools, not just in the South, but in the North as well. For anyone who wants to understand more about race relations during the segregation era, particularly in light of the public schools, this book is a must-read.

[Joseph T · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such depth on research!