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Go to the Back of The Bus is Alive and Well in Louisiana

By Jeralyn, Section Social Justice
Posted on Thu Aug 24, 2006 at 02:41:27 PM EST
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This is pretty shocking. Dateline, Coushatta, LA:

Nine black children attending Red River Elementary School were directed last week to the back of the school bus by a white driver who designated the front seats for white children.

The situation has outraged relatives of the black children who have filed a complaint with school officials. Superintendent Kay Easley will meet with the family members in her office this morning.

More on this here. So, is it an isolated instance?

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    Go to the Back of The Bus is Alive and Well in Louisiana | 11 comments (11 topical)
    Re: Go to the Back of The Bus is Alive and Well in (none / 0) (#1)
    by Johnny on Thu Aug 24, 2006 at 02:54:52 PM EST
    To think... this day and age... someone from the south is still grasping at that crap.

    Re: Go to the Back of The Bus is Alive and Well in (none / 0) (#2)
    by kdog on Thu Aug 24, 2006 at 03:18:39 PM EST
    Shocking is right...people are sick. Almost as sad, from the article...
    A new solution reached Monday by School Board officials has a black bus driver driving across town to pick up the nine black children
    I got a better idea, fire the bigot, first come first serve on the seats....ya know, the American way.

    Re: Go to the Back of The Bus is Alive and Well in (none / 0) (#3)
    by nolo on Thu Aug 24, 2006 at 03:26:23 PM EST
    Even more shocking are the comments to the article. Yeech.

    Re: Go to the Back of The Bus is Alive and Well in (none / 0) (#4)
    by Edger on Thu Aug 24, 2006 at 03:55:08 PM EST
    is it an isolated instance?
    I hope it is. But I wonder and think it probably is not. The mindset of those in power the past few years of superiority and exceptionalism over people of different cultures faiths and races, and their denial of basic logic and thinking ability and apparent wish to turn the clock back to an era of supposed conservative utopia where everything is seen in terms of clear black and white has infected many of their supporters and spread its poison through many areas of the country.

    Re: Go to the Back of The Bus is Alive and Well in (none / 0) (#5)
    by Edger on Thu Aug 24, 2006 at 04:01:21 PM EST
    kdog: I got a better idea, fire the bigot... ... and send him to the back of the bus. Or better yet, make him walk...

    Re: Go to the Back of The Bus is Alive and Well in (none / 0) (#6)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Aug 24, 2006 at 09:42:05 PM EST
    Outragous and it shouldn't be allowed to continue. The bigoted bus driver should be FIRED, and that's it. It's 2006, not 1950 or 1960 and we cannot allow this to get a breath of a foot hold! But what am I saying? CBS actually thinks the new season of Survivor is a good idea. Pitting one race against the other, and so many American's will actually watch it, including members of my family, and not find anything wrong with it. Unbelieveable.

    Re: Go to the Back of The Bus is Alive and Well in (none / 0) (#7)
    by desertswine on Fri Aug 25, 2006 at 08:25:05 AM EST
    Surprise! Bush administration opposses integration.

    Re: Go to the Back of The Bus is Alive and Well in (none / 0) (#8)
    by Sailor on Fri Aug 25, 2006 at 09:17:55 AM EST
    Great link desertswine! Thanks.

    Re: Go to the Back of The Bus is Alive and Well in (none / 0) (#9)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Sep 01, 2006 at 04:36:36 PM EST
    Did you know that Red River is the poorest and least populated parish in Louisiana which is the poorest state in the union? That the only schools in the whole parish, and it is rather large, is in Coushatta? I am sure kids that have to ride the bus 3 hours a day all sit quietly and get along always. I know because I am from there. There use to be two other small schools but they closed them because of poverty. Hall Summit was K-12 with a graduating class of 16 kids. Martin was even smaller. I was 12 when these schools integrated and I am sure everyone will be shocked that it was peaceful. Surely racism is the only possible reason those kids were separated. Maybe it could be something as simple as they did not get along.

    Re: Go to the Back of The Bus is Alive and Well in (none / 0) (#11)
    by anon55 on Thu Sep 07, 2006 at 11:44:34 AM EST
    Regarding desertswine's link about Bush's opposition to integration. Now mind you, I am by NO MEANS a Bush lover all you have to do is look at "Impeach Bush!!!" to see that. Nor am I opposed to equal opportunities for ALL people. However, I do have to say that the use of racial profiling to "balance" school populations and thus excluding any person due to their race is also very wrong. I don't see how discriminatory practices are justified in an effort to prevent discrimination, that just doesn't make sense and certainly doesn't promote condtions that are conducive to encouraging tolerance and cooperation. I can tell you that I would be HIGHLY annoyed if my child were forced to attend a school that was far from my home when there was a sutiable one possibly right around the corner...and no, the argument that sacrifice is necessary to achieve equality doesn't quite cut it in an instance such as this. Thoughts? Leave me a message on my site...

    Re: Go to the Back of The Bus is Alive and Well in (none / 0) (#10)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Sep 07, 2006 at 12:29:03 PM EST
    maybe they did not get along is becouse of race.... i have experienced some of the same ... in minnesota... yeah, they say its not as bad up here , just ask the catholic preist who came from your homestate... it is just as bad up here... my step son was forced to sit in the front of the bus, away from other students... so he could be monitored for something unjust that he did not do....

    Go to the Back of The Bus is Alive and Well in Louisiana | 11 comments (11 topical)