School Desegregation and Black Assimilation

Many changes in American race relations have occurred in the three decades since the Brown v. Board of Education decision. Some of these changes are related to school desegregation and have been extensively studied—e.g., changes in racial attitudes among both blacks and whites, and changes in black self‐esteem and achievement‐test performance. In contrast, relatively little is known about the long‐term effects of school desegregation on assimilation—full and equal participation of blacks in the social, economic, and political life of the society. When school desegregation is viewed in the context of the long‐term functions of education, it seems important for researchers and policy makers to ask whether it promotes the social integration of blacks and whites in adult life and enhances the career attainments of blacks. These important issues have recently begun to receive empirical research attention. This article reviews recent research on the long‐term effects of school desegregation on black assimilation, emphasizing evidence from several national surveys. Implications for social policy, intergroup relations, and interracial equity are discussed.