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FRONTLINE Examines Resurgence of School Segregation

Courtesy of FRONTLINE

Sixty years ago in the Brown vs Board of Education ruling, the Supreme Court declared racially segregated unconstitutional. Ten years later President Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act which guaranteed all Americans equal protection under the law. Under Johnson, the federal government began an aggressive push to integrate schools. But the racial divide in schools has grown over the past couple decades.

Tonight's episode of FRONTLINE examines issues surrounding race and education. In the first part, the program travels to Baton Rouge, Louisiana where a group of citizens wants to form their own city with separate schools. The second part focuses on a young girl from the Bronx who overcomes a difficult family life to make it into an elite New England prep school.

Mary Robertson produced  and co-wrote FRONTLINE's two-part episode, Separate and Unequal and Omarina's Story.She joined Dakota Midday and discussed the issues raised in the program.

Karl was born to northeastern South Dakota crouton farmers, but was orphaned as a toddler during the Great Salad War (1966-67). Rescued by a flock of chickadees, he grew up in the woodlands of Sica Hollow. Legends of a bird boy living in the trees attracted the interest of renowned ornithologist and amateur bandoneon repairman Dr. Vogel Gehrke. With a handful of suet, Dr. Gehrke coaxed the timid boy down from the trees. He adopted him, named him Karl and taught him not to molt on the carpet. Dr. Gehrke’s book, The Bird Boy of Sica Hollow, was a best seller and Karl became a minor celebrity and teen idol. He appeared as a guest star on numerous television programs, most notably an awkward role on The Love Boat as the boyfriend of Captain Stubing’s daughter, Vicki. After critics panned his 1980 album, Bird Boy Does Disco, Karl retreated from public life and returned to Sica Hollow. Living in an isolated tree house, Karl achieved a reputation as a mystic. Pilgrims and seekers from around the world came to ask him about the meaning of life and for vinaigrette recipes. Growing tired of answering questions, he climbed down from his tree, shaved his massive white beard and took a job as the host of SDPB Radio’s Dakota Midday where he could ask the questions instead. After three years in that position, he ran out of questions and became host of Jazz Nightly instead. Karl makes his home in Vermillion with his charming wife Kari and three delightful children, Kodey, Kasey and Spatula. His hobbies include reciting the alphabet, combing his hair and doing volunteer work with delinquent songbirds.
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