Segregationism is sometimes looked to by other disenfranchised segements of society (women — radical feminists, specifically) as the only true hope of realizing potential and progress within a group of people. This is based on the underlying theory that to “succeed” in today’s world means to assimilate to a white male-dominated and oriented society. It may be that this man believes that integration is really more destructive to his community because it is truly assimilation, in which they are forced to mimic white culture and white cultural values in order to “get ahead”. It’s basically like this: you can suceed in white male culture if you act like a white male.

What were white people willing to give up to integrate society/schools? Were white parents jumping at the opportunity to send their kids to predominantly black schools? Furthermore, what happens when elements of non-white culture begin to permeate the mainstream? Massive resistence, hysteria and fear.

Its a vialbe theory that being educated in a community that embraces your value system would be a more conducive environment to learning. Not to say that value systems differ necessarily according to race, but they may in some places. They may also differ according to sex, income, age and geography.

I’m not advocating segregation, at all. I’m simply saying it’s sad because it’s a response to the failure of de-segregation’s implementation, not its principle. It shows radical apporaches arising out of frustration of not being truly woven into the fabric of society, not a militant desire to isolate a group from society.