After 43 years of courtroom battles, Nashville's landmark school desegregation lawsuit was settled. In the eyes of the law, the city finally made an honest effort to racially integrate its schools. But in truth, the matter was far from settled.
For the Kelley family, whose son was the case's named plaintiff, being Black in America meant there were battles and sacrifices at every turn — far beyond education. And for Richard Dinkins, the plaintiffs' lawyer, hope was quickly replaced by dismay as he watched decades of work and progress towards school desegregation begin to unravel.
"The settlement was based on mutual promises," Dinkins said. "The city broke the promise."
In this episode, our story about Nashville's fight for school desegregation continues.
The Promise is written and produced Meribah Knight. Edited by Emily Siner, with additional editing by Anita Bugg, Tony Gonzalez, Samantha Max, Sergio Martinez-Beltran and Damon Mitchell. Fact-checking and research by Sam Zern. Advising for this season by Savala Nolan Trepczynski and Alex Kotlowitz. Mixing by Jakob Lewis of Great Feeling Studios. The music is by Blue Dot Sessions.
Coming Soon: Behind The Blue Wall
The Final Exam
The Recruitment Divide
A Reckoning
Warner's Hope
What You Can't Unsee
The Nashville Way
A Tale Of Two Schools
Season 2 Coming Soon
Update: Letting Go
Bonus 2: The Big Man Interview
Bonus
Part 6: The Future
Part 5: Get Some Gone
Part 4: The Great Divide
Part 3: The People And The Police
Part 2: A Beautiful Day In The Projects
Part 1: A Change is Gonna Come
Coming Soon: The Promise
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