"One More River to Cross" by Charles Lawrence

Lawrence argues that "the Brown decision fostered a way of thinking about segregation that has allowed both the judiciary and society at large to deny the reality of race in America, that the recognition of that reality is critical to the framing of any meaningful remedy-judicial or political - and that Brown may ultimately be labeled a success only insofar as we are able to make it stand for what it should have stood for in 1954."

Passage of interest

• "the Supreme Court's reasoning in striking down an interdistrict desegregation order in Detroit was flawed in that it misunderstood the true nature of the institution of segregation", and the "failure to recognize and articulate the true nature of racial segregation was more the product of an intentional, knowledgeable decision than the result of any inability to comprehend."

This is what we discussed in class, without recognizing and speaking the words, things will just continue on without any changes. It reminds me of the "bandaid on the broken leg" that you use in class....the court did not acknowledge the true "nature" of segregation; not because they were not able to understand it but the way they chose to admit to it. Segregation means the
policy or practice of separating people of different races, classes, or ethnic groups, as in schools, housing, and public or commercial facilities, especially as a form of discrimination.

• "Segregation's only purpose is to label or define blacks as inferior and thus exclude them from full and equal participation in society."

I believe this entire article orbits around this statement. The concept of segregation is to keep blacks in this state of inadequacy making it really hard to ascend to a higher level and really to remain in a lower level. The true nature of the institution of segregation is what Charles Lawrence argues about in this article in relation to Brown vs. court decisions.

• "Segregation is organic and self-perpetuating. Once established it will not be eliminated by mere removal of public sanction but must be affirmatively destroyed."

"organic and self-perpetuation"...to me these terms describe the institution. It brings a visual pic to mind; a large tree with deep roots that when you try to remove it, it becomes very difficult. "Self-perpetuation"...according to the dictionary is, having the power to renew or perpetuate oneself or itself for an indefinite length of time. I also think that it is something that is rooted within people's nature at a very early stage if they are able to unlearn it and at the point of unlearning, the nature of segregation does not have to mean that anything will be done about it. Affirmatively destroy?? How can that be done??

Comments/questions

I believe Lawrence is viewing Brown as a bandaid that was placed on a really bad broken leg. Lawrence believes that the society needs to work to normalize the connections between whites and black in the effort to guarantee desegregation and anti-discrimination. Still today the problem remains.....how can we affirmatively destroy??? Any suggestions???