The summary of the Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg board of education case can be limited to the creation of busing programs that tried to contribute to racial integration in US public schools. It was one of many attempts to fight against racial segregation in American society.
Explanation:
The Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg board of education case (1971) was another effort to create an equal education system for US citizens irrespective of the color of their skin. Even though it was ruled by the Supreme Court in 1954 that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional, the state of affairs did not change for the better after it. Appropriate housing patterns and radical views of local politicians led to the fact that no more than 5 percent of African American children attended integrated schools in the late 1960s.
Considering the background above, Darius and Vera Swann believed that their 6-year-old son had the right to attend one of Charlotte’s integrated schools. Seversville Elementary School was closest to their home, and they sued the local board of education to allow their child to be one of a few African Americans who attend that educational establishment.
The decision of the Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg board of education case was in favor of the plaintiff. The federal district judge satisfied the Swanns’ demands and made provision for the creation of a busing plan. The decision was appealed to the Supreme Court that, however, upheld it. After that, such busing strategies emerged throughout the United States and were considered instruments that contributed to integrating public schools.
Thus, it is impossible to overestimate the importance of the Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg board of education case. In addition to the fact that a busing system appeared, the case demonstrated the social desire to combat racism in an education system. Furthermore, cases like Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg board of education serve as evidence that the court can use the law and the principles of common sense to decide on the issues that are essential for society.
When analyzing what happened in the Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg board of education case and its consequences, one can mention that it was essential for the whole nation. Numerous citizens were proud of their new educational system, and many of them tend to connect the city’s prosperity in the 1980s with this case and its decision.
At the same time, the ruling of the Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg board of education case failed to eradicate the phenomenon of racial segregation. One the one hand, one should note that creating a busing plan is not sufficient to address and solve the significant issue under consideration. On the other hand, busing witnessed much criticism after its implementation. People of all races argued that busing was harmful to African American pupils. It was so because a few dark-skinned children were forced to endure humiliation from other passengers on the way to and from school.
In conclusion, one can say that the Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg board of education case was a controversial phenomenon in US history. On the one hand, it was an attempt to end segregation in American society, and it managed to achieve some successful results. On the other hand, a busing strategy also created some problems for African American pupils. However, the case under consideration was an integral event that contributed to the creation of integrated public schools.