President Biden’s recent speech commemorating the 70th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education, the landmark Supreme Court ruling that desegregated schools, has been met with scrutiny over his past actions against school desegregation.
Critics have highlighted Biden’s previous opposition to busing, a strategy used to integrate schools, and his earlier remarks supporting segregation. In a 1975 Senate hearing, Biden sponsored a bill limiting the court’s power to use busing for desegregation. He also expressed skepticism about the concept of systemic oppression against Black Americans.
These past actions have drawn criticism, particularly from Biden’s 2020 Democratic presidential opponents. Vice President Kamala Harris, who herself was part of the second class to integrate public schools in California through busing, has publicly challenged Biden’s position on race.
Biden has defended his record, stating that he has no racist inclinations and has been involved in civil rights throughout his career. However, his past statements and actions continue to be a source of debate and scrutiny.
The resurfacing of Biden’s past actions against school desegregation has sparked discussions about the evolution of his views on race, the complexities of racial issues in American history, and the ongoing struggle for racial equality.
