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Perceptions of Segregation, Desegregation, and Integration from Burglund High School Students in Mccomb, Mississippi

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Perceptions of Segregation, Desegregation, and Integration from Burglund High School Students in Mccomb, Mississippi The University of Southern Mississippi The Aquila Digital Community Dissertations Fall 12-2016 Perceptions of Segregation, Desegregation, and Integration from Burglund High School Students in McComb, Mississippi Cynthia Loren Lamkin University of Southern Mississippi Follow this and additional works at: https://aquila.usm.edu/dissertations Part of the Educational Leadership Commons, and the Race and Ethnicity Commons Recommended Citation Lamkin, Cynthia Loren, "Perceptions of Segregation, Desegregation, and Integration from Burglund High School Students in McComb, Mississippi" (2016). Dissertations. 885. https://aquila.usm.edu/dissertations/885 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by The Aquila Digital Community. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations by an authorized administrator of The Aquila Digital Community. For more information, please contact [email protected]. PERCEPTIONS OF SEGREGATION, DESEGREGATION, AND INTEGRATION FROM BURGLUND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN MCCOMB, MISSISSIPPI by Cynthia Loren Lamkin A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate School and the Department of Educational Research and Administration at The University of Southern Mississippi in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Approved: ________________________________________________ Dr. Lilian Hill, Committee Chair Professor, Educational Research and Administration ________________________________________________ Dr. Myron Labat, Committee Member Assistant Professor, Educational Research and Administration ________________________________________________ Dr. Holly Ann Foster, Committee Member Assistant Professor, Educational Research and Administration ________________________________________________ Dr. David Lee, Committee Member Associate Professor, Educational Research and Administration ________________________________________________ Dr. Karen S. Coats Dean of the Graduate School December 2016 COPYRIGHT BY Cynthia Loren Lamkin 2016 Published by the Graduate School ABSTRACT PERCEPTIONS OF SEGREGATION, DESEGREGATION, AND INTEGRATION FROM BURGLUND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN MCCOMB, MISSISSIPPI by Cynthia Loren Lamkin December 2016 Black-American history has been, and continues to be, one rich with struggle and progress throughout a multitude of past and current events – including the White resistance to Blacks becoming educated and the segregation and inequality permeating education, politics, and general living for centuries. It is necessary to gather a further understanding of the Black perspective regarding direct experiences of discrimination in education in order to cultivate pedagogy by which all students may have an equal chance to thrive. This study of the memories shared by former students who did and did not participate in the walkout on October 4, 1961, from Burglund High School in McComb, Mississippi, will facilitate an understanding of former pupils’ perceptions of segregation, desegregation, integration, and McComb public schools during and since the walkout. ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Special thanks are extended to my committee chair, Dr. Lilian Hill, and my other committee members – Dr. Holly Foster, Dr. Myron Labat, and Dr. David Lee. – for their advice and support throughout the duration of this research. Special thanks also goes to Dr. Leslie Locke and Dr. Michael Ward whose continued support and guidance assisted with the completion of this project and journey. I would also like to thank Dr. Wanda Gwyn and the friendly, helpful staff in the Department of Educational Research and Administration office. Utmost appreciation is extended to all of the study participants, especially Brenda Travis, and those individuals who referred them. I also extend my gratitude to my colleagues, peers, and classmates for our many discussions and their support while finalizing this work. iii DEDICATION While diligently working to successfully walk the path of earning this doctoral degree, I was provided loving support by my beloved husband (Robert Sr.), my children, Kenneth (KC), Jaylon (Jay), Asia, Robert Jr. (RJ), my parents (Dorothy and Joseph Young Sr.), my sister (Valerie), and my friends. I am thankful for each of you and your patience as journeyed to I completed this major life goal, and I dedicate the heart of this work to you. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ........................................................................................................................ ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ................................................................................................. iii DEDICATION ................................................................................................................... iv LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................. xi LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ........................................................................................... xii CHAPTER I –INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................... 1 Background of Study ...................................................................................................... 2 Student Achievement in Mississippi ............................................................................... 4 Significance of the Study ................................................................................................ 5 Purpose of the Study ....................................................................................................... 6 Research Question .......................................................................................................... 7 Assumptions .................................................................................................................... 7 Theoretical Foundations.................................................................................................. 7 Justification of the Study ................................................................................................ 8 Methodology ................................................................................................................... 9 Summary ....................................................................................................................... 10 Definition of Terms....................................................................................................... 11 CHAPTER II –REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE.......................................................... 13 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 13 v Slavery and Literacy ..................................................................................................... 13 The Emancipation Proclamation ................................................................................... 17 Thirteenth Amendment ................................................................................................. 18 Freedmen’s Bureau ....................................................................................................... 21 Reconstruction .............................................................................................................. 23 Fourteenth Amendment ................................................................................................ 24 Resistance to Blacks Becoming Educated .................................................................... 25 Segregation ................................................................................................................... 26 Characteristics of Black Education ............................................................................... 29 Landmark Cases Related to School Desegregation ...................................................... 31 Pre-Brown Cases ....................................................................................................... 32 Plessy v. Ferguson (1896). .................................................................................... 32 Mendez v. Westminster (1946). ............................................................................ 33 Briggs v. Elliott (1949). ........................................................................................ 33 Sweatt v. Painter (1950). ....................................................................................... 34 Gonzales v. Sheely (1951). ................................................................................... 35 Belton v. Gebhart (1951). ..................................................................................... 36 Brown v. Board of Education (1954) ........................................................................ 36 Brown II (1955). ................................................................................................... 38 Post-Brown Cases ..................................................................................................... 38 vi Bolling v. Sharpe (1955) ....................................................................................... 38 Davis v. Prince Edward County (1959) ................................................................ 39 Brown III (1978). .................................................................................................. 40 Problems with Desegregation ....................................................................................... 40 Integration ....................................................................................................................
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