Reading, Writing, and Race

The Desegregation of the Charlotte Schools

By Davison M. Douglas | Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press

About the book

Using Charlotte, North Carolina, as a case study of the dynamics of racial change in the 'moderate' South, Davison Douglas analyzes the desegregation of the city’s public schools from the Supreme Court’s 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision through the early 1970s, when the city embarked upon the most ambitious school busing plan in the nation. In charting the path of racial change, Douglas considers the relative efficacy of the black community’s use of public demonstrations and litigation to force desegregation. He also evaluates the role of the city’s white business community, which was concerned with preserving Charlotte’s image as a racially moderate city, in facilitating racial gains.

Charlotte’s white leadership, anxious to avoid economically damaging racial conflict, engaged in early but decidedly token integration in the late 1950s and early 1960s in response to the black community’s public protest and litigation efforts. The insistence in the late 1960s on widespread busing, however, posed integration demands of an entirely different magnitude. As Douglas shows, the city’s white leaders initially resisted the call for busing but eventually relented because they recognized the importance of a stable school system to the city’s continued prosperity.

Editions of Reading, Writing, and Race

Hardcover
ISBN 9780807822166
Paperback
ISBN 9780807845295
EBook
ISBN 9798890869715
EBook
ISBN 9798893130997
EBook
ISBN 9781469619743
EBook
ISBN 9781469606484

Read an Excerpt

Using Charlotte, North Carolina, as a case study of the dynamics of racial change in the 'moderate' South, Davison Douglas analyzes the desegregation of the city’s public schools from the Supreme Court’s 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision through the early 1970s, when the city embarked upon the most ambitious school busing plan in the nation. In charting the path of racial change, Douglas considers the relative efficacy of the black community’s use of public demonstrations and litigation to force desegregation. He also evaluates the role of the city’s white business community, which was concerned with preserving Charlotte’s image as a racially moderate city, in facilitating racial gains.

Charlotte’s white leadership, anxious to avoid economically damaging racial conflict, engaged in early but decidedly token integration in the late 1950s and early 1960s in response to the black community’s public protest and litigation efforts. The insistence in the late 1960s on widespread busing, however, posed integration demands of an entirely different magnitude. As Douglas shows, the city’s white leaders initially resisted the call for busing but eventually relented because they recognized the importance of a stable school system to the city’s continued prosperity.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Reading, Writing, and Race about?

Using Charlotte, North Carolina, as a case study of the dynamics of racial change in the 'moderate' South, Davison Douglas analyzes the desegregation of the city’s public schools from the Supreme Court’s 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision through the early 1970s, when the city embarked upon the most ambitious school busing plan in the nation. In charting the path of racial change, Douglas considers the relative efficacy of the black community’s use of public demonstrations and litigation to force desegregation. He also evaluates the role of the city’s white business community, which was concerned with preserving Charlotte’s image as a racially moderate city, in facilitating racial gains.

Charlotte’s white leadership, anxious to avoid economically damaging racial conflict, engaged in early but decidedly token integration in the late 1950s and early 1960s in response to the black community’s public protest and litigation efforts. The insistence in the late 1960s on widespread busing, however, posed integration demands of an entirely different magnitude. As Douglas shows, the city’s white leaders initially resisted the call for busing but eventually relented because they recognized the importance of a stable school system to the city’s continued prosperity.

What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Reading, Writing, and Race?

Society and Social Sciences > Society and culture: general > Social and ethical issues > Social discrimination and social justice

Where can I read a sample of Reading, Writing, and Race?

You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780807822166

How long is Reading, Writing, and Race and how many pages does it have?

Reading, Writing, and Race has 374 page(s)

Who is/are the Author/s of the book Reading, Writing, and Race?

Davison M. Douglas

Who is the Publisher of the book Reading, Writing, and Race?

The University of North Carolina Press

What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?

Reading, Writing, and Race is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780807822166) and paperback(ISBN 9780807845295) and ebook(ISBN 9798890869715) and ebook(ISBN 9798893130997) and ebook(ISBN 9781469619743) and ebook(ISBN 9781469606484)

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Where can I buy Reading, Writing, and Race?