This column finds Bayard Rustin examining the decline of Black Studies enrollment and the broader debate over educational equity. While recognizing the importance of teaching Black history, he argues that separate academic programs should not replace efforts to provide all students with rigorous educational opportunities and meaningful support. Rustin ultimately calls for greater investment in educational resources that address the lasting effects of inequality and expand pathways to professional success.
"Separate Is Not Equal" Newspaper Column
This 1969 column finds Bayard Rustin examining the debate over separate Black studies departments on college campuses. While acknowledging the educational inequalities Black students faced, Rustin argues that lasting progress depends on access to the strongest possible academic opportunities rather than separate and potentially under-resourced programs. He ultimately calls for educational reforms that expand opportunity and strengthen students’ ability to compete in broader social and economic institutions.
