Joe was firmly for desegregation, but his constituents in Delaware were not happy with the idea of busing. Politicians early in their career worry about getting re-elected and he gave in to their pressure. But, I believe he has evolved in showing more leadership. Certainly he has had a lot of support from the older black politicians who know him well.
Before I moved to Charlotte in 1979 (at IBM's expense), I was well aware of the federal courts forcing Charlotte's public schools to use busing to desegregate the schools. To avoid "white flight" to the suburbs, the schools system became a county system and busing was to be used have all schools reflect the population mix. The "white flight" was to private schools mostly church related. (That shows you where racism lives.)
Busing was in place close to a decade when we arrived. My youngest was in elementary school and bused several miles to West Charlotte. My wife had volunteered to help out at the school to be satisfied that things were done right.
The older two kids went to a South Charlotte high school where blacks were bused from West Charlotte. Both of them were bright students and took many AP (Advanced Placement) courses which had fewer blacks and more Asian students. One could argue that AP classes are an in-school discrimination.
Before I moved to Charlotte in 1979 (at IBM's expense), I was well aware of the federal courts forcing Charlotte's public schools to use busing to desegregate the schools. To avoid "white flight" to the suburbs, the schools system became a county system and busing was to be used have all schools reflect the population mix. The "white flight" was to private schools mostly church related. (That shows you where racism lives.)
Busing was in place close to a decade when we arrived. My youngest was in elementary school and bused several miles to West Charlotte. My wife had volunteered to help out at the school to be satisfied that things were done right.
The older two kids went to a South Charlotte high school where blacks were bused from West Charlotte. Both of them were bright students and took many AP (Advanced Placement) courses which had fewer blacks and more Asian students. One could argue that AP classes are an in-school discrimination.