The Silk Stocking Sisters

Thank you for joining us for another episode of The Silk Stocking Sisters Podcast. We are honored to be joined by Professor John C. Brittain, an esteemed lawyer, civil rights advocate, and current Professor of Law at the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law. In this episode, Professor Brittain utilizes his extensive expertise to unpack the legal distinctions between de jure and de facto segregation and to discuss the legacy of the Sheff v. O’Neill case. Filed under the Connecticut State Constitution, Sheff challenged the racial and economic segregation caused primarily by housing patterns and district boundaries.

In this honest and reflective conversation, we confront the uncomfortable truth about how district boundary lines have been and continue to be used as tools for enforcing segregation. We explore the implementation of magnet schools and the practice of busing students of color from their urban neighborhoods to predominantly white suburban schools as a proposed solution to segregation. Access to a better education often meant students of color had to leave their communities behind and adapt to environments that weren’t built for them. Together, we ask an important question: What can be done to improve schools in urban districts so that students don’t have to leave in order to succeed?

Join us for an honest, thought-provoking conversation about education, equity, and the ongoing struggle to fulfill the promise of equal opportunity for all students. Be sure to subscribe to The Silk Stocking Sisters podcast on the ALIVE Podcast Network app for more episodes!