By Lois E. Wilson
The old saying, “Birds of a feather flock together” has shown to be true in many cases. Most people have free will to select the associations they make throughout life. On campuses black fraternities and sororities were founded. They included graduates who formed links of encouragement for current students to achieve success in the community at large. Interactions and relationships are a continuum of ups or downs. The scale of choice in these matters could be as follows:
- You meet people for the first time—you don’t like them; they don’t like you. You avoid each other for you have little in common.
- You don’t particularly like the person, but you can tolerate working and being together.
- I like you, but I would rather be with people like me who share my interests.
- We like each other; we like being together. We have the same standards and goals.
In the 1950’s and 60’s, segregation of schools was a key focus. After Brown vs. Board of Education, some school districts implemented forced busing to accomplish integration goals. Magnet Schools and Charter Schools based on educational needs were created which gave families some choices on where and what areas their children would study.
After a time, some groups questioned if the cost of transporting students was prudent since the academic scores of students didn’t improve as predicted. Busing was not achieving the success they wanted for their children; it put a stigma on them as their neighborhoods were not viewed in a positive way. Parents in some cities asked for neighborhood schools to be reestablished so that pride in living areas and family ties to schools would improve.
Affirmative action for college admissions and employment has been challenged in the courts. It has proven that diversity in our lives is difficult to achieve by edict. Actually we already have it: “There never were in the world, two opinions alike, no more than two hairs, or two grains; the most universal quality is diversity.” Montaigne.
New groups such as Black Lives Matter have come to the forefront to confront “systemic racism” as they describe it. Lately, other movements and proposals have advanced to indicate when it comes to association, we still choose to interact with those most like ourselves
In a trend called by the National Education Policy Center neo–segregation, predominantly white and relatively affluent areas divorce themselves from school districts that are majority-minority and have greater poverty. Also, it is reported that in the 1960’s, Yale students began to self-segregate themselves with the “approval” of the administration. Columbia University in New York City is slated to hold six commencement ceremonies. At least 70 other colleges across the country offer separate graduations; some of these are based on race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. In a few cases, it could be for COVID reasons.
Equal opportunity should be given to all to “become the best they can be.” Lionel Richie’s song puts it well. “Say you, say me, say it together naturally.” May we always have the freedom to take wing with whom we choose and fly our course together. We are all in God’s flock.