Instead of opening the doors of its public schools to African-Americans after the Brown v. Board of Education ruling, Virginia shut many of them down in the late 1950s. Earlier this week the state legislature approved a measure to fund $1 million in scholarships to those people who were denied an education in the state. Many of these people were forced to move out of state to pursue their education.
There are about 250 to about 350 former students who are eligible for The Brown v. Board of Education Scholarship Fund. Local humanitarian John Kluge has matched the state’s funding to bring the total to $2 million.
Some Republicans argued that this measure would open the door for African-Americans to seek reparations for slavery. However, the scholarship fund is compensation for people still alive who were directly affected by the state’s wrong doing and not reparations.
The State Of . . . Racial healing. How far do these recent acts go to further heal America’s original sin? Does it deepen resentment among some segments who would rather let these issues stay buried? Iit goes a long away when an official body recognizes that it committed a wrong toward its citizens. It improves morale of the citizenry and engenders good will. Hoorah, Virgina!
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