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This article didn't want to say something, but I think alot of Freepers here are also missing the point. Alot of this resegregation is voluntary. In alot of cases, alot of black families simply don't want there kids bussed to some white school. It may be, because the kids friends aren't going there, it could be because the school is far and the parents want the kids to be closer, it could be any number of reasons, but alot of black families support the bussing concept, they just don't want it happening with there kids. Generally, you won't see white kids bussed to inner city schools, though it does happen time to time, but usually not for long, as the parents will either pull there kids out, sue to keep them from being sent, or if they have to, move. Another issue is "white flight". I work in real estate and know that no matter what the HUD or Justice Department says, it happens. A school starts a bussing program bringing in minority students, some parents chose to move, then because you now have several houses hitting the market, property values drop, other people suddenly start selling there homes and moving before the prices crash, with falling property values, more minorities move in, since they can afford the homes, and people react and move even more. Minorites also tend to chose to live in the city, most white families as they gain wealth, tend to want to live in the suburbs. This resegregation is totally voluntary, so if ands or buts about it. The courts can't change that, they keep trying, but people sometimes don't want diversity or just don't want there kids riding a bus far far away to a strange place (to them) in the name of diversity.

Interesting perspective... thanks for the post.

In my part of Central California over here on the West Coast, it's mostly Hispanics. 70% of the students in my high school are Hispanic, and probably about 27% are white. But it isn't like all of the whites are leaving for private schools; in fact, I know very few people who do. Rather, I believe it comes down to the fact that Central California is the agricultural capital of the world. We have a lot of farm laborers from Mexico who are attracted to the opportunities that America provides. Many Hispanics do not mind the hard labor in exchange for a good paycheck. Also, you are not required to learn English or have a college education to pick grapes. So, from my experience, I would say that it is simply the region that determines the voluntary segregation in schools. If the area has a lot of whites, the school will have a lot of whites. If the area has a lot of blacks, the school will have a lot of blacks. Doesn't that sound logical?

Segregation, outside of certain workplaces, is still quite the rule in the rural- and suburban- South, at least the portions I am familiar with. Any town in Mississippi of size has a black section, and outside of that area there are few blacks. The smae pattern occurs in rural areas- certain roads are considered "black areas". However, it would be hasty to declare that it is soely the fault of whites and their efforts to remove themselves from black neighborhoods and areas- though it would be foolish to deny: it happens, and sometimes for very good reasons that have nothing to do with racism. But, blacks also tend to congregate- along with Hispanic labourers- in seperate areas, and worship in seperate churches, and attend seperate social functions. They are not forced to do so by any one, and much social stigmata has gradually withered away in the past few decades. Blacks would very much be welcomed in my church, but few have ever come: I recall only one fellow, and he was Jamacian and presumably unexposed to regional racial stigmatas- most of which are very much black imposed.

The issue is quite complex, and for one outside of the South is quite difficult to truely understand and appreciate within its social and racial views and beliefs and traditions: not that I am comfortable or agree with all of them, but one must understand to appreciate the situation and offer a fair judgement of it. There is much in my state that grieves me, but much of it is very much out of my control or intervention, and I have no desire to force people to adopt to my ideals and views, nor can I solve the problems that cause disharmony and seperation. White Mississippi has done much, and ordealed much, and changed much: it is now largely up to our black brethern to finish the dream.

I think you are on to something. Sears and Ameritech had many Black employees in their loop offices. Those companies moved to the far NW suburbs, as far from Chicago's Black South Side as possible.

Some social scientists thought the well paid Black employees would move to the NW suburbs close to their jobs. Employees had extremely generous relocation packages. Real Estate agents went to class on how to handle the needs of the Black buyer. But only a few moved. My area had an increase from 5% to 10% Black. It seems many well paid Blacks left Sears and Ameritech for jobs at employers still in the loop.

Hispanic surnames, however, are 55% of new HOMEOWNERS in my middle class suburb. Others, like my wife, are Hispanic without a Hispanic surname. These are upwardly mobile immigrants who typically entered illegally in the 80's and got papers in the 90's. The suburb next to me has a dramatic increase in South Asians from India, Pakistan, etc.

The demand has exceeded the supply, driving up home values (and my equity nicely). Crime has declined even while the 14-25 population has increased. The Republican vote has gone up. Hispanics are much better neighbors than the White trash they replaced. (Can I say that if I am White trash myself?)

Compared to Blacks in the city, a significant number of Blacks in my area are in mixed marriages and more typical of assimilation than maintaining a Black identity. They are concerned about property taxes and the same things as everyone else around here.