It is well-known that the groundbreaking Supreme Court ruling in 1954, Brown v. Board of Education, declared racial segregation in American public schools unconstitutional. However, a lesser-known but equally significant decision came in 1969 with Alexander v. Holmes County Board of Education, which mandated the immediate desegregation of racially segregated schools. In other words, the Court was serious about its earlier ruling.
These historical events and their subsequent impacts are explored in two captivating documentaries from PBS’s “American Experience” series. “The Busing Battleground,” directed by Sharon Grimberg and Cyndee Readdean, delves into the turbulent history and disastrous consequences of busing in Boston. The film portrays the violent eruption that occurred when students were bused to schools outside their own neighborhoods in an attempt to integrate the public school system. Premiering on September 11th, this documentary sheds light on the fierce defense of ethnic neighborhood borders and the clashes that ensued.
On the other hand, “The Harvest,” produced by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Douglas A. Blackmon and Oscar-nominated filmmaker Sam Pollard, tells the story of Blackmon’s hometown in Mississippi. The film follows Blackmon, who was part of the first integrated class of students to progress from first grade to high school in rural Mississippi. Premiering on September 12th, this documentary offers a personal perspective on the challenges and triumphs of integration in a small Southern town.
These films arrive at a critical juncture, as recent reports show a reversal of the hard-won gains of desegregation, with some schools now more segregated than before court interventions. They highlight what has changed, and more importantly, what hasn’t, in the nearly seven decades since the Brown decision. By questioning assumptions and challenging conventional narratives, these documentaries engage viewers in a thought-provoking exploration of the complexities surrounding desegregation.
Both films also tackle a crucial question: Why has the desegregation process been so arduous? In today’s society, where even supposedly liberal enclaves struggle with segregation, the underlying reasons are not always acknowledged. In the years following the Brown ruling, the motives were often overt. In both the North and South, many white parents staunchly opposed their children’s integration with Black peers, and politicians actively supported their efforts.
While many associate segregated facilities with the Jim Crow South, “The Busing Battleground” reveals the determined efforts of white citizens in Boston to maintain segregated schools, particularly in neighborhoods such as South Boston and Charlestown. These self-contained communities resisted change and the presence of Black individuals. The documentary showcases the relentless endeavors of Black Bostonians, led by Ruth Batson, who fought for school integration through various means such as voting, direct action, and legal battles. Meanwhile, the white power structure, led by Louise Day Hicks, head of the Boston School Committee, obstructed progress and rallied public support for the status quo. This portrayal challenges the commonly held belief that the North was more progressive and shows that liberal ideals do not guarantee open-mindedness.
By 1974, when Federal judge W. Arthur Garrity Jr. ordered the integration of Boston schools through busing, tensions had reached boiling point. The footage from the early days of busing, with Black students from Roxbury entering South Boston High School, remains shocking in its violence. Teens and their parents unleashed a storm of bricks, bottles, and rocks at the buses while hurling racial slurs with abandon. It is striking to remember that these events took place in a Northern city during the 1970s.
One photograph, captured by Stanley Forman and awarded a Pulitzer Prize, captures the essence of that period. It shows Ted Landsmark, a Black attorney and civil rights activist, being held by white protesters while another prepares to assault him with an American flag. Landsmark, who appears in the film, recalls fearing for his life that day.
“The Harvest” also features a Bicentennial celebration scene from Blackmon’s hometown of Leland, Mississippi. The home movie footage depicts a joyful parade with Black and white Cub Scouts marching together, accompanied by a band in which a young Blackmon plays. While the film acknowledges that integration in Leland had its challenges, it pales in comparison to the strife witnessed in Boston. The term “up South” is used to describe the racial tensions in Boston during that period.
Blackmon, a white individual, was part of the first integrated class in Leland, class of 1982, which attended public schools. He recalls a childhood defined by interracial friendships at school that rarely extended beyond school hours. Playing together with his Black friends, such as with G.I. Joe dolls, was discouraged by parents on both racial sides. What Blackmon was unaware of at the time was that the new private schools that emerged after the 1969 Supreme Court decision were predominantly organized by White Citizens’ Councils, similar to the Ku Klux Klan, with hidden agreements to exclude Black teachers and students. Despite the surface calm, Leland’s schools were resegregating.
Blackmon and Pollard, an integrated creative team, previously collaborated on the documentary adaptation of Blackmon’s book “Slavery by Another Name,” which dealt with the convict leasing system during the Jim Crow era. Having both perspectives was deemed necessary for this contentious story. Similarly, the makers of “The Busing Battleground” found that having diverse perspectives facilitated truthful recollections during interviews.
Ultimately, both films arrive at a sobering conclusion: the schools in Boston and Leland have largely resegregated since the 1970s, with many white families opting for private or parochial schools or moving to the suburbs. However, “The Harvest” offers a glimmer of hope through the stories of Blackmon’s former classmates who returned to their community and now hold significant positions, such as the superintendent and police chief. They represent the positive outcomes that stem from the struggle for desegregation.
In conclusion, these documentaries shed light on critical chapters in American history and prompt viewers to ponder the complexities surrounding the issue of desegregation. The stories of Boston and Leland expose the struggles faced in both Northern and Southern regions, challenging preconceived notions about progressiveness and liberalism. While setbacks in desegregation have occurred, the personal narratives showcased in the films offer valuable insights and reasons to remain hopeful for a more integrated future.
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