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The power and limits of institutions in altering the racial hierarchy of the United States: A new lens on the history of school desegregation
Author(s) -
McNeill Shelby M.,
Rowley Kristie J.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
sociology compass
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 31
ISSN - 1751-9020
DOI - 10.1111/soc4.12665
Subject(s) - desegregation , supreme court , public administration , law , government (linguistics) , hierarchy , enforcement , power (physics) , law enforcement , sociology , political science , physics , quantum mechanics , philosophy , linguistics
Abstract This article frames the history of school desegregation within the broader topic of the ability of institutions to generate shifts in macro‐level racial hierarchies. Utilizing the vast social science literature on the history of school desegregation, we specifically examine the level of involvement required from all three branches of the United States federal government to desegregate public schools. We argue that aggressive and repeated involvement was required from the United States federal government, including the Supreme Court, President, federal law enforcement agencies, and Congress, to desegregate public schools, thereby demonstrating the intense commitment needed from institutions to alter racial hierarchies. However, because most formerly desegregated public schools experienced rapid resegregation after declining involvement from the federal government, we also conclude that alterations to racial structures are unlikely to be maintained without continual force from institutions.