Darius Swann, who fought for school integration, dies at 95

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By TOM FOREMAN Jr.

The Rev. Darius L. Swann, whose challenge to the notion of segregated public schools helped spark the use of busing to integrate schools across the country, has died at his Virginia home. He was 95.

The Rev. David Ensign, interim pastor at Burke Presbyterian Church, where Swann’s family attended church, confirmed in an email that Swann died on March 8.

Swann’s wife, Vera, told The Washington Post that her husband died of pneumonia.

On Sept. 2, 1964, Swann wrote a letter to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school board, asking that his son James be allowed to attend Seversville School, two blocks from his home, rather than the all-black Biddleville School, which was more than twice as far away. He was allowed to argue his case at a subsequent meeting of the school board, which suggested that the Swanns enroll James in Biddleville, then request a transfer.



FILE - In this May 15, 1972, file photo, unidentified students of West Charlotte High School leave a bus in Charlotte, W.Va. A man whose challenge to the notion of segregated public schools helped spark the use of busing to integrate schools has died at his Virginia home. The Rev. Darius L. Swann was 95. Swann's wife, Vera, said her husband died on March 8, 2020, of pneumonia. (AP Photo/Harold L. Valentine, File)


Read more: https://apnews.com/79d40271394b28fbe1d9beedfb030173

[Hoyt]

1. People like the Rev Swann were the real heroes of my lifetime. Did not know of him,

until reading your post. But I grew up in South and know how brave and committed he — and those like him — had to be. I love reading of these fighters.

Thanks for posting, Steve.

[DAMANgoldberg]

2. That 1971 Court Order...

requiring forced busing was a landmark decision. However, as a result of a 1999 court decision, race can't be a factor in pupil assignment. [1] Then magnet schools were created to try to reverse the segregated neighborhoods that plague Charlotte today. That had limited success, though as a disclosure, I live in a segregated neighborhood with a magnet school nearby. With the economy as it is, and gentrification spreading out beyond the city center, it will only get worse.

[1] https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/the-desegregation-and-resegregation-of-charlottes-schools

Minor aside, Charlotte is not in West Virginia. There may be one, but it was not corrected in the AP file photo. The photo clearly states North Carolina Public Schools, Mecklenburg County, which all school buses continue to this day.

[abqtommy]

3. Mr. Swann, rest in the peace you so richly deserve.