Is Education the New Divide in Mississippi?

Former Governor William Winter tells a group of Black and Jewish high school students that education is the new divide

The racial divide is not what it used to be in Mississippi. Former Governor William Winter says instead of basic rights like voting and equal pay, today's biggest obstacle to equality lies in education. MPB's Lawayne Childrey reports.

In the spirit of the freedom riders of the civil rights era, a delegation of 30 Black and Jewish high school students from Operations Understanding DC were recently in Jackson speaking with leaders and foot soldiers of the movement. Former Governor William Winter told the group that the biggest fault line now between people is not race but education.

“So that's why we have to put such a huge emphasis on maintaining the quality of education that we can, and encourage people to send their children to school and keep them in school. The drop-out rate is appalling and I don't think we will ever achieve real economic parity until we achieve educational parity.”

“I agree. Education is actually a necessary thing that we need to bring together.”

That's 17 year old Samatra Kabindama, a senior at Charles Flowers High School in Springdale Maryland.

“It's obvious that there's separations in classes, races and how education has been distributed to both. And we need it to blend so it will be equal for all different categories of people to get the same type of education.”

Winter says quality healthcare, a strong economy and a strong workforce are all based on a good education. For MPB News, I'm Lawayne Childrey.