America’s public schools seldom bring rich and poor together – and MLK would disapprove

Public schools were originally envisioned in the 19th century as ‘common schools’ where rich and poor kids could be educated together. MLK wanted the same thing – but it’s not happening.

By: Jack Schneider, UMass Lowell, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: January 17, 2026

Words: 1,234

Last Updated: 2 months ago

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By Jack Schneider, UMass Lowell

More than five decades after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., many carry on his legacy through the struggle for racially integrated schools. Yet as King put it in a 1968 speech, the deeper struggle was “for genuine equality, which means economic equality.” Justice in education would demand not just racially integrated schools, but also economically integrated schools.

The fight for racial integration meant overturning state laws and a …

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