One More River to Cross- Charles Lawrence

One More River to Cross is about....

• Failure
• Success
• Racial segregation
• Inferiority
• Superiority
• White vs. black
• School systems
• Desegregation
• Power
• Remedies

Argument

Charles Lawrence argues that the Brown decision created a form of thinking about segregation that has allowed society and the judiciary to deny the reality of race in America Recognizing that segregation existed is an important remedy judically and politically.

Evidence

1. " Once the system is established, any attempt to distinguish "active" govermental involvement in racial segregation from "passive" or nuetral tolerance of private segregation is illusionary"(286).

2. "Blacks are told we have no right to an end to the institution of segregation, and in bith cases we are told that this is so because the injury we claim is figment of our imagination"(292)

3. "The oppressor's understanding of his oppression is limited by self intrest, and ultimately we must find ways to make our oppression operate against the self intrest of thos in power"(293).

Points to share/ Comments/ Questions

The Brown vs. Board of Education case was a turning point in education and has affected the lives of everyone since. I found it very intresting that black schools during segregation in the South was superior to the white schools. I always thought it was the opposite, especaily since it was a time of racism and blacks were seen as inferior within the society. But in reality segregation continues to exist in our society based on race and wealth. When I was living in the South Bronx the people living in that neighborhood were hispanics and blacks and seeing whites in our community was rare unless they were from a phone, cable or housing company. Asians lived in our neighborhood but ran the chinese restuarant. Like Jonathan Kozol said i n Amazing Grace 86 street was the last stop on the train for whites or maybe even 125th. When I moved to Rhode Island...to Barrington the town is surrounded by whites and I don't even know another colored or hispanic family within my community. The members of my church are all white and my family is the only Guatemalans/ blacks in this church. We are not treated differently from the others at the church but the difference is there and blaintly obvious to anyone who isn't blind. Segreation in the Unites States is illegal now... but is all around us and has affected my life regardless of whether Brown vs. Board of Ed led to desegregation. We as a people have a long way to go before we can be desegregated in housing, employment and education. Diversity is supposed to be important but our society is still segregated. Will this ever change within future generations?