Integrations: The Struggle for Racial Equality and Civic Renewal in Public Education

by Lawrence Blum, Zoë Burkholder

The promise of a free, high-quality public education is supposed to guarantee every child a shot at the American dream. But our widely segregated schools mean that many children of color do not have access to educational opportunities equal to those of their white peers. In Integrations , historian Zoë Burkholder and philosopher Lawrence Blum investigate what this country’s long history of school segregation means for achieving just and equitable educational opportunities in the United States.

Integrations focuses on multiple marginalized groups in American African Americans, Native Americans, Latinxs, and Asian Americans. The authors show that in order to grapple with integration in a meaningful way, we must think of integration in the plural, both in its multiple histories and in the many possible definitions of and courses of action for integration. Ultimately, the authors show, integration cannot guarantee educational equality and justice, but it is an essential component of civic education that prepares students for life in our multiracial democracy.

Genres: Education

276 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2021

About the author

Lawrence Alan Blum is an American philosopher who is Distinguished Professor of Liberal Arts and Education and Emeritus Professor of Philosophy at the University of Massachusetts, Boston. He is known for his work in the philosophy of education, moral philosophy, and race.

Reviews

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

(philosophy of ed)

LIMPING through the homework finish line this week. Wasn’t sure we were gonna make it with this one, not gonna lie

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great analysis of how public school desegregation and integration since the Brown decision have ultimately failed in delivering equality of "educational goods."