In the 1960s, the wealthy Cleveland suburb of Shaker Heights was held up as a national example of a community trying to desegregate.
An almost unheard-of thing, for the time – voluntarily integrating first housing, then the schools – with no court order involved.
The town drew accolades for confronting issues of racism head-on.
Yet, as the schools became more racially balanced, the achievement gap between white and Black students widened. And remains an issue today.
Shaker Heights native and Washington Post journalist Laura Meckler explores the racial issues then and now in her book “Dream Town…Shaker Heights and the Quest for Racial Equity."
Host:
- Amy Juravich, 89.7 NPR News Midday Host and assistant program director
Guests:
- Laura Meckler, author of Dream Town…Shaker Heights and the Quest for Racial Equity and Washington Post journalist
If you have a disability and would like a transcript or other accommodation you can request an alternative format.