The Idea of an Essay, Volume 4

Research Writing 143 choice policies in recent decades have allowed racial segregation to reemerge. Sikkink and Emerson conclude from data gathered by Orfield and Eaton, “Court decisions that open the door to greater segregation and grass roots efforts to reconnect schools and (highly segregated) neighbourhoods have opened the door to more segregated schools” (269). However, due to the alternative focus of their study, Sikkink and Emerson do not provide a solution for segregation. Rapp and Eckes largely agree with Sikkink and Emerson and actually claim that integration policies discourage true reconciliation. Rapp and Eckes point out that in twelve states without integration statutes, there was only a 3% difference in racial composition than in seven states with integration statutes (624). Concurring with Green, Rapp and Eckes point out that integration statutes might actually discourage the founding of charter schools, which could serve the need for minority students and ultimately enable further integration (623). On the contrary, Roda and Wells believe the government should take a more active role in preventing racial segregation. Roda and Wells believe that “colorblind” policies, policies that promote competition between schools as opposed to racial integration, are to blame for segregation. According to Roda and Wells, such policies, many of which take funding away from the public school system and encourage the founding charter schools, are counterproductive and correlate with increased racial segregation in schools (262). To solve segregation, Roda and Wells advocate for school policies that specifically promote racial integration (261). Sikkink and Emerson, Roda and Wells, and Rapp and Eckes lay out logical explanations as to how and why racial segregation occurs in the educational system. While Sikkink and Emerson do not present a solution to segregation, both Rapp and Eckes and Roda and Wells provide legitimate reasoning to support their solutions to segregation. While all the authors disagree on some level, they all provide excellent insight into the problem of racial segregation. The most important point of agreement between all three authors lies in the acknowledgement of racial suppression and segregation. Regardless of how or why it occurs, the acknowledgement of racial segregation is crucial to healing the divide between blacks and whites.