An Unfulfilled Promise

During the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s and 1970s, while much of the nation's attention was turned toward the South, Northern states and cities also grappled with how to respond to Black Americans' calls for equal rights and treatment. This included Boston, which was gripped in a contentious debate over the issue of segregation in the city's public schools. This debate ultimately produced a 1974 court case, known as Morgan v. Hennigan, which required the city to integrate its public schools through busing and whose consequences continue to reverberate to this day.

In An Unfulfilled Promise: Desegregation and Busing in Boston, we invite you to explore the history around Morgan v. Hennigan and more. Learn about the context leading to the push for school desegregation and some of the key Bostonians on both sides of the school segregation question. Explore the role of the Old State House in this story, consider the challenges the Boston Public School system continues to face, and share your thoughts on the state of public schooling in America today. We welcome you to join us in commemorating the 50th anniversary of this key moment in Boston's long and storied history.