Problems of the Past...That are Still Here in the Present

One problem that King addressed several times throughout his life was the educational disparities in race. Throughout King’s life, black students did not have the same opportunities in education as whites, and they did not have access to as many resources as whites that are required for education as well. This problem sadly still exists today. There are many signs that reveal the racial disparities in our country’s educational system.

One sign of the racial educational disparities is that according to journalist Liz Sablich, white and Asian students “are more likely to be exposed to advanced classes” ^[1]. One reason this is so sad is because it shows how the educational system in this country is not offering equal opportunities to all students. How can black students expect to receive an equal education as their white peers if they are not given the same opportunities in school?

According to the National Center for Educational Statistics, in the 2014-15 school year, 88% of white students completed high school, while only 75% of black students received a high school degree. ^[2] Many causes could be attributed to these stats, but whatever the cause may be, the reality is that more white Americans are receiving more education than black Americans.  

Another sign that exposes the educational disparities in race is the stats on students which students have received out-of-school suspension. According to editor Lindsey Cook, 20% of black male students and almost 12% of black female students are suspended in a school year. Contrasting with that, only 6% of white male students and 2% of white female students receive suspension in a school year. ^[3] So not only are black students not receiving the same opportunities to advanced education as their white peers, they are receiving more punishment from the school systems. (I wrote in an earlier blog about how black adults are getting incarcerated at far higher rates than white adults. See the parallel?)

Any stat you want to look at will ultimately show that black students are not receiving equal educational opportunities in schools. A good education is the basis of everything in America. If a person does not receive a solid education as a child or teenager, the effects of that will last into his or her adulthood and possibly limit their children’s opportunities too. Education is essential in helping break the chains of poverty. To succeed in America, you need to be educated, and the educational systems in America have major reform work ahead in order to ensure equality for all.

[1] Sablich, Liz. “7 Findings That Illustrate Racial Disparities in Education.” Brookings, Brookings, 26 July 2017, www.brookings.edu/blog/brown-center-chalkboard/2016/06/06/7-findings-that-illustrate-racial-disparities-in-education/.

[2] “Public High School Graduation Rates.” The Condition of Education - Elementary and Secondary Education - Student Effort, Persistence and Progress - Public High School Graduation Rates - Indicator April (2017), Apr. 2017, nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/indicator_coi.asp.

[3] Cook, Lindsey. “U.S. Education: Still Separate and Unequal.” U.S. News & World Report, U.S. News & World Report, 28 Jan. 2015, www.usnews.com/news/blogs/data-mine/2015/01/28/us-education-still-separate-and-unequal.