Learning in
Grand Rapids
Part 1 of the 14th Amendment Series: Living, Learning, and Loving in Grand Rapids
December 12, 2023 @ The Grand Rapids Public Museum
At the the GRPM’s Meijer Theater, we presented the first of a three-part series that considers the impact of the Constitution and the 14th Amendment here in Grand Rapids. The equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment provided the legal rationale for key civil rights Supreme Court and legislative Decisions, including Brown v. Board of Education, Shelley v. Kraemer, The Fair Housing Act and Loving v. Virginia. The Constitution is a living document, and its relevance is best understood through its application in daily life. The impact on the lives and community of Grand Rapidians are explored in this series
“Learning” explores the real-life impact of the Brown decision on the Grand Rapids Public Schools and the children that attended these schools. A 1966 study commissioned by the school board found that although there was no “de-jure” segregation in GRPS, the segregated housing patterns of the city had created a “de-facto” segregated system. The report concluded that non-white students were receiving an inferior education and that white students were missing out on the opportunities for interaction with a diverse community.
The GRPS board responded by creating a plan to integrate its schools by busing students from the predominantly South East Side of the city to schools that were located in the predominantly white districts on the West and North East sides of the city. It was determined politically difficult to bus white students to South High or other South East side schools. This was politically true despite South High’s tremendous legacy in the city, including alum that included President Gerald Ford and singer Al Green, among many others.
The panelists were the former children who carried the burden of this integration plan. Randal Jelks, author of African Americans in Furniture City, served as the moderator. Joining him were three 1968 South High graduates (the last class) Mel Atkins, Rick Bengelink, and Deborah Jones. Ed Kettle, represented Union High School’s Class of 1969. Edye Evans Hyde graduated from Creston High in 1975 as did Teresa Neal, in 1977.
All of these panelists went on to impact lives of children in significant ways. But the experiences explored in the panel were from the vantage point of the children and how this impacted them throughout their lives. Enter with us into this important GR Story.
