The Impact of School Desegregation on White Individuals' Racial Attitudes and Politics in Adulthood

• In Event: Schools and Social Policy: Segregation, Housing, and Transportation

Abstract

Contact theory predicts the racial integration of schools to improve students’ racial attitudes. However, there is limited causal evidence for intergroup contact in education. In this study I identify the impact of historic court-mandated school desegregation on white individuals’ racial attitudes and politics in adulthood. I find that desegregation decreased the liberalism of white adults’ political views and worsened their racial attitudes and support for policies promoting racial equity (e.g., affirmative action). These measures predict black adults’ educational attainment and income. Effects appear to be driven by counties that integrated using busing policies. These results suggest that how schools are integrated may be important to consider for productive intergroup contact, given the controversial and forced nature of historic school desegregation.

Author

• Mark Chin, Vanderbilt University