Five Miles Away, a World Apart

In Five Miles Away, a World Apart, James E. Ryan explores the persistent inequalities in educational opportunities for black and white students, as well as for those from differing socioeconomic backgrounds, more than fifty years after the landmark case Brown v. Board of Education. By examining the contrasting fates of two schools in Richmond, Virginia—one in the city and one in the suburbs—Ryan reveals how 1970s court rulings on desegregation contributed to ongoing disparities. Through a blend of legal analysis, social science research, and firsthand accounts from the school community, he highlights the shortcomings of education reforms aimed at addressing these divides and their role in perpetuating segregation.