Integration caused more harm than good, says Regester
Regester argues that the quest for integration caused more harm than good. Rather than leading to an improved life, she contends that integration eliminated black cultural institutions and bred a sense of inferiority among black students.
Citing this Excerpt
Oral History Interview with Charlene Regester, February 23, 2001. Interview K-0216. Southern Oral History Program Collection (#4007) in the Southern Oral History Program Collection, Southern Historical Collection, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Full Text of the Excerpt
- SUSAN UPTON:
-
How do you think the black community is now? How has is changed since
desegregation?
- CHARLENE REGESTER:
-
I will tell you one of the things that disturbs me the most as a result
of integration, is as a result of integration I see, and I could be
wrong, I don't know everything, I see this sense of blacks
feeling insecure and having a lower self esteem in part because they
have been thrust in these majority environments that they perceive as
being superior. And that's what I see as very disturbing and
very problematic.
- SUSAN UPTON:
-
That they look at it as being superior...
- CHARLENE REGESTER:
-
Right, and to talk white and act white and be white as somehow more
acceptable. What's wrong with being black and talking black,
whatever that means, if we can operationally define that. You can still
have self esteem. I'm black, I'm happy,
I'm proud, I'm not insecure.
I'm not desirous of whiteness and being white. I mean, does
that make me great or any better? That's what I see as very
disturbing now. And this notion I see here now that if I go to a white
school I'll be more marketable. Well, if you go to a good
black school you have some good teachers and some good access,
you'll be even more marketable. You know, so that sense if
you're in this environment your somehow having a better life,
career, access and that's not necessarily true at all.