All Deliberate Speed - by Charles M Wollenberg

Book Synopsis

In All Deliberate Speed: Segregation and Exclusion in California Schools, 1853-1975, the author explores the long, complex history of racial integration and exclusion in California's public schools. Beginning with a parent's hopeful statement in 1872 about the positive impact of school integration on racial equality, the book examines the enduring struggle to make that vision a reality. This historical study delves into California's educational system and its resistance to integration, as well as the ways in which schools and courts have both facilitated and obstructed progress toward racial equality. The author aims to provide a "usable history" to frame contemporary debates on issues like busing and ethnic balance within the broader context of past racial and educational dynamics.

The book also considers California's unique demographics and educational landscape, underscoring the state's role as a battleground for integration policies due to its diverse ethnic composition. The state has a significant population of minorities, including people of Asian, Latin American, Polynesian, Black, and Native American descent, who have historically faced varying levels of discrimination in education. Unlike studies focused on Eastern states, this book highlights California's distinct educational challenges and offers a regional perspective on national integration issues. The narrative centers on how each ethnic group navigated these challenges, actively seeking ways to leverage the educational system for social mobility, while facing resistance that led them to turn to the courts for justice.

Despite the author's personal belief in integration, the book refrains from presenting the subject as a clear moral dichotomy. Instead, it examines the varied motivations behind both integrationist and segregationist stances, revealing that intentions range from promoting equal opportunity to preserving community heritage or opposing enforced assimilation. The study frames California's educational history as a conflict between universalist ideals of national values and the particularist values of local communities. By viewing the ongoing battles for school desegregation as a reflection of deeply rooted beliefs in the power of education and the judiciary, the book ultimately underscores the enduring faith that Americans place in these institutions to shape a more equitable society.

This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press's mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1976.