Desegregation Decrees: The Controversial Tug-of-War Over Racial Equity in Southern Schools

The sharp difference between Ferriday High and Vidalia High schools in Concordia Parish, Louisiana, underscores the enduring racial disparities in education. Ferriday, predominantly Black, is visibly older and less funded than the cleaner, more modern Vidalia, which serves a majority white student body.

The Justice Department is now moving to rescind longstanding court orders meant to enforce desegregation—a step met with mixed reactions. While some consider these decrees outdated, civil rights advocates argue they are vital tools for addressing ongoing racial inequities in schools.

In the broader context, more than 120 districts across the South remain under desegregation orders from the 1960s and '70s. As debates continue, the future of these orders in enforcing racial equity remains uncertain.

(With inputs from agencies.)