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Tinoco Arturo

English 1T

Sussie Huerta

February 27, 2017

The Truth Behind Segregation In America

To separate them from others of similar age and qualifications solely because of their race

generates a feeling of inferiority as to their status in the community that may affect their hearts

and minds in a way unlikely ever to be undone. Brown v. Board of Education was a landmark

United States Supreme Court case in which it was declared that segregating public schools for

black and white students was unconstitutional and sinful according to the 14th amendment of the

American Constitution. This case took place in 1954; sixty-three years later we are blindly

starting to face segregation once again. Low-income regions, which generally consists of

African-Americans and Latinos, are increasingly becoming re-segregated from the white, middle

and high-class population. Authors like Jeff Chang and Richard Valencia profoundly elaborate on

how resegregation is affecting society by narrating examples of current cases. The combination

of gentrification which leads to poor education which ends causing fear mongering are three

events that may be the biggest causes leading to the rebirth of segregation in America, creating

not only psychological but also emotional in short and long-run effects.

In recent discussions of Gentrification (the process of renovating a deteriorated city by

building new shopping centers, restaurants, stadiums, companies, etc), a controversial issue has

been whether it re-segregates people or not. On one hand, some argue that it is okay to build new

infrastructure in order to generate more income. This is because the more desirable the area is,

the more expensive it becomes therefore it creates more consumption and economic growth.

From this perspective, I agree that it helps to raise the economy of the area given that some
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people will be able to afford such expensive luxuries. On the other hand, others argue that it

causes re-segregation because it results in the increase of property values and the isolation of

lower-income families and small businesses. In the words of Jeff Chang, an American journalist

and music critic, reiterates, They also force us to look beyond the boundaries of the city, into

how entire regions are being reshaped into new geographies of inequality (67). Chang makes

his point of view clear in this quote. By creating urban areas, low-income families are finding

themselves living in places that they can no longer afford. Having no other option than to find

cheaper areas where to move to. This is not only dividing society but also creating a hostile

environment between the rich and the poor. It is also important to keep in mind that the rural

areas to which these low-income families are moving to lack basic technological advances and

economic opportunities, creating an even bigger gap between the low and the middle class

population.

Gentrification is currently a major negative impact on our education systems around the

country. Researches have long proved that schools are being separated between lower and higher

income areas, originating inequality for the poor. For instance, schools in higher-income areas

receive more money due to higher tax brackets as well as large donations. In contrast, schools in

the lower-income areas do not receive the same amount of money given that people living there

do not generates many taxes, consequently, low-income students receive less opportunities

because such schools can not afford to pay for more advance technology, better qualified

professors or educational field trips. According to Richard R. Valencia, a Professor of

Educational Psychology and Faculty Associate of the Center for Mexican American Studies at

The University of Texas, states,

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The lower intellectual performance of Mexican-American students couldnt be explained

by inferior heredity, but rather by the dual system of education presented in Mexican and

White school, the family system of contract labor, social and economic discrimination,

education negligence on the part of local and state authorities, and homogenous grouping

to mask professional inefficiency (Valencia 399).

In other words, Valencia believes that knowledge is power, and education is the essential

prerequisite for political development, democracy and social justice. The division of the

education system due to race is the governments fault because of the misperceptions and

prejudices against people of color. This once again, contributes to segregation because the high-

income student have the best resources to increase their intellect, while minorities lack of proper

education due to the low opportunities they have. For instance, if a rich student has internet and

a poor student doesnt, the rich one will have an comparative advantage because he/she will have

all the information at the palm of his/her hand, while the poor student will find him/herself

struggling for it.

Ultimately, the division of educational institutes by race or low-income level originating

bad education, will cause fear mongering. It is the form of intellectual manipulation that uses

fear tactics incorporating exaggeration, misrepresentation and prejudgments to influence the

public in order to achieve a desired issue. Uneducated people will feel intimidated by those with

a higher education and will eventually believe they must do and say as they are told. To illustrate,

if someone tells an uneducated person that immigrants will be forced to leave tomorrow, he/she

will believe it, and most likely, start fearing for his life and family. Thus, people of color will

begin to fear the White society by the reason that they have more education and power which

allows them to develop interpersonal relationships and become politically active unlike people of
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color or minorities. In the article Is Diversity for White People, Chang exclaims, But fear is

enemy of truth and division the master key of demagogues (13). The basis of Changs argument

is that having people living with fear will cause an even more extreme separation in society

between the majorities and minorities; rich and poor; the white and the colored; the educated and

uneducated; ultimately leading to a dictatorship-like type of government which intimidates

minorities due to people who follows it.

In conclusion, segregation is a problem that people of color have been facing in the

United States throughout history. It encourages the division and isolation of many different

cultures; not allowing to have an enriching diversity which is essential in order to grow as a

country. It brings different and open ways of thinking. Many people think or make people think

that we dont face segregation anymore but we are blindly experiencing it every single day.

Segregation has been, is and will continue to be a reality for a minority members in the United

States.