NY Times Magazine Takes In-Depth Look at School Segregation in Jefferson County

GARDENDALE, AL - The city of Gardendale's attempt at forming its own school system, separate from the Jefferson County system, has drawn attention from a national publication, and not for good reasons. New York Times Magazine features the small Birmingham suburb in an article showing what the writer calls the "resegregation" of Alabama schools. Using examples of Homewood, Hoover, Vestavia Hills and Trussville as examples of cities that decreased its black student population by forming their own schools systems, New York Times Magazine takes an in-depth look at how schools in Alabama are reverting back to segregation in many ways.

The article, The Resegregation of Jefferson County, uses a flier sent out to Gardendale residents that listed communities like Pleasant Grove, Center Point and Hueytown under the heading: “Places that chose NOT to form their own school system.” And listed Hoover, Homewood, Vestavia Hills and Trussville as communities that did form their own systems, and were “listed as some of the best places to live in the country.” (For more updates on this story and free news alerts for your neighborhood, sign up for your local Birmingham Patch morning newsletter.)

The article is a look at how Jefferson County cities have gradually "resegregated" by forming their own school systems and keeping minorities out. Gardendale was unable to begin this school year as its own system. In May, U.S. District Court Judge Madeline Haikala stayed most of the provisions in her order from April after both black plaintiffs and the Gardendale Board of Education recently told her they were appealing her ruling to the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals.

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