lot of the problem with our youth stems from an age-old system that was set up and designed to hinder the future of our community. It is known as integration! From the very beginning, integration was never set up right.

Originally, it was in 1896, that the Supreme Court ruled that “separate but equal” was constitutional. As it was the Constitution stated that, “A statute which implies merely a legal distinction between the White and colored races — a distinction which is founded in the color of the two races, and which must always exist so long as White men are distinguished from the other race by color — has no tendency to destroy the legal equality of the two races, or re-establish a state of involuntary servitude.”

It was not until May 17, 1954 that the enactment of Brown v. Board of Education overturned this constitutional statue.

However, here we are six decades later and the same problem that existed during the post-slavery days of our ancestors we find still prevalent in our communities. Although, vaguely disguised in different areas the essence is still here.

Of course, teachers bear the responsibility of teaching and instructing children of all races, nationalities, cultures and ethnicities in the classroom. Yet, the fact remains that there is still residue of a segregated structure within our school systems.

On any given day, walk into a school that is culturally diverse. I am most certain that you will find the Blacks amongst Blacks, Whites amongst Whites, Hispanics amongst Hispanics and so forth and so on.

This is part of what troubles me the most is that they just really didn’t get this integration thing right!

It bothers me because at the end of the day the only ones that are truly suffering from it, is our schools, our communities and most importantly our future, which are our children.

Some people may think that integration was the best thing that could have ever happened to the Black community. Perhaps, if it was done right it could have been.

Nevertheless, I do agree with Clarence Thomas who stated, “I think segregation is bad, I think it’s wrong, it’s immoral. I’d fight against it with every breath in my body, but you don’t need to sit next to a White person to learn how to read and write.”

We have paid a hell of a price when it comes to integration! We have lost and are continuing to lose our children. Morals, values and ethics of years ago have since vanished within our neighborhoods because of the acceptance of many things that were just not tolerated back in the day when I was coming up.

Therefore, it really does behoove everyone, especially parents and guardians of school-aged children to pay attention to the growing phenomenon that is occurring in our public school system. Because whether you are willing to accept it or not; the affects are rampantly falling onto the burden of the parent/guardian.

This is all in addition to building a hefty record amongst the youth of our community. School officials are writing tickets and sending students to court for things that back in the day we would have just gotten paddled for at school; and dealt with the consequences once we got home.

Then to make matters worse, parents are not even given the permission and authority to discipline and raise their children at their own discretion. That is without having to heed and be mindful of an ill-mannered child threatening to call Children Protective Services.

I feel it necessary to relay to our loyal African-American News & Issues readers concerning the ills and position that integration has forced upon community. The schools within our communities appear as if they are designed to prepare our youth for a life of judicial hardship. Kids are getting sent to jail left and right.

WE MUST UNDERSTAND that most people fail to realize before integration, individuals of the Black community had a strong sense of respect and understanding for another.

In part because, of the struggle that those of African descent, now categorized as African-Americans endured a comprehension of the trials and tribulations that they experienced together was a commonality that bonded the Black community together as a whole.

For this cause do I agree with Ed Smith who stated that, “One of the prices that we pay for integration was the disintegration of the Black community.”

Some people may view it as a blessing, others a curse. However, I look at it for what it really is; and it is a hell of a price to pay!