The historical reality represented in this fictional paragraph about the 1960s is mixed reactions to Black students attending a historically white high school. This reflects the broader context of school desegregation in the United States, particularly following the landmark Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Education in 1954, which ruled that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. The mention of protests outside the school underscores the resistance and challenges faced by Black students during this period, as well as the hope and determination of individuals like Rita who sought a better educational opportunity in an integrated environment.
Rita did not care what her parents had said last night; she was glad things were changing. They might be willing to overlook the ratty textbooks and dingy classrooms at the old high school, but Rita was glad she and other Black classmates would be attending Somerset High in the fall. The first few days would be terrifying; Rita could barely imagine what she would wear or say. She knew people would protest outside, but she also knew she could prove herself among the white kids. She looked forward to her first new textbook, her first test, and her first "A.”
What historical reality is represented in this fictional paragraph about the 1960s?
political leader reactions to integration of Black and white students
youths’ rebellion against new students attending their schools
educational testing of a variety of students in wealthy school districts
mixed reactions to Black students attending a historically white high school
1 answer