CLEVELAND, MS - Quick geography lesson. Of the fifty states in our country, did you know there are 18 with cities named Cleveland....including one in Mississippi.
The small town of about 12, 000 has two high schools. Each located on either side of an abandoned railroad track. And, one other thing.....the schools are still segregated!!!
Yeah. It`s been nearly 60 years since the Supreme Court ruled "separate but equal" is unconstitutional. Apparently, "Brown vs. The Board of Education" doesn`t ring any bells in Cleveland, Mississippi.
A federal court is now saying, "Welcome to 2016, Cleveland!" and ordering the school district to consolidate the two high schools into one. While they're at it, the court says to do the same thing for the two segregated middle schools, too.
Not everyone agrees. In fact, the school district has been fighting this legal battle for 50 years.
De'Audriana Jones graduated from the all-black East Side High School. "So many people set in their traditions and what they like and what they're used to. And so to come in and change it it's like it'll be an uproar."
Treyzar Eatmon is another East Side graduate with the same concerns. "The racial tension the whole desegregation and all that stuff it's just going to cause a lot of problems."
The school board attorney issued a statement saying it`s investigating options, which includes filing an appeal.
Hard to believe, after six decades, the solution is not as simple as black and white.....
