By every measure the plan set forth by Bayard Ruskin to get "favorable people into power" to control the fate of the Black community has been achieved.
It is increasingly clear that this plan did not invest sufficient attention upon the need for financial resources to go along with their purely political/ideological struggle forward.
Fast forward several decades in the struggle and now we see that the "Memphis Public Schools" has returned its charter to the state. By dissolving the city schools the governing body that is higher in the rung is compelled to assume responsibility for these educational services. (Note - The provision of educational services is a mandate that exists in nearly all state constitutions. The state is responsible for delivering these services. The provision of a local charter merely franchises these services to the local entity).
I have stated from day one that these local charters (a city charter or a state charter for a school system) requires that those who seek the charter for the local operations must also maintain an environment where a sufficient tax base is maintain to allow these local entities to operate.
When the notion of "social justice" is thrown into the mix we see a demand for NATIONALIZE funding. (Important concept coming up) - Ironically the very schools that are in place to develop the people within the district for highly skilled, well compensated jobs must operate effectively in support of the ultimate goal of PERPETUATION of this high order goal. The struggle to force an EXTERNAL OPERATOR (the federal government) to provide funding for these schools does little more than misdirect the people's consciousness focus into MANAGING THE SCHOOLS.
In other words - the passion of the struggle is a matter of obtaining funding. The challenges that require the local people (parents, students and adults in the community) to yield their time in direct support for the academic edification of these children is too often lost in the diversion into the political struggle.
Surely someone must see the irony that after a long struggle to control the Memphis Public Schools - the school system was ultimately forced to disband - now being fused into the far smaller, majority White school district of Shelby County.
Until we reconcile these gross points of dysfunction our community will continue to STRUGGLE but the desired ends will not be achieved.
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