Busing in Boston

Paper Summary:

This paper details the history as presented in the book "Boston Against Busing," written by Ronald P. Formisano. It describes the racism in the 1970s when the courts mandated busing children away from their neighborhood schools to more distant locations, as a way of addressing the racial imbalance in the schools. The paper analyzes Formisano's depiction of the events.

From the Paper:

"The decision was handed down by Judge Garrity in 1974, and he sought to make certain that the order was followed immediately. The school board and its supporters were largely in denial that there was any segregation in Boston, but the court did not listen to this claim. The next argument was that segregation was beyond the ability of the school district to address, and the court rejected this idea as well. In fact, the judge found that the school system used a feeder method that assured that blacks and whites were deliberately separated into black and white schools. The system claimed that it allowed black students to enroll in schools of their choice, but the judge found that school policies were intended to discriminate on the basis of race. Formisano notes that the decision should not have been a surprise, though it was treated by opponents as if it were and as if there were no foundation or precedent for it."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Formisano, Ronald P. Boston Against Busing: Race, Class, and Ethnicity in the 1960s and 1970s. Chapel Hill, North Carolina: University of North Carolina Press, 1991.

More papers on Busing in Boston:

• Analytical Essay # 41254 : "Boston Against Busing"
• Term Paper # 122558 : "Boston and School Busing"
• Book Review # 117538 : "Ronald P. Formisano's Reactionary Populism"

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