Desegregation

/ˌdiːˌsɛɡrɪˈɡeɪʃən/ noun

Definition

The process of ending the forced separation of racial, ethnic, or social groups in schools, public places, and institutions.

Etymology

From de- (remove) + segregation (forced separation based on race or ethnicity) + -tion (noun suffix). This word became crucial in American civil rights vocabulary in the 1950s-60s.

Kelly Says

Desegregation is one of the most important words in modern American history—it names the legal and social process that tried to undo the harm of segregation, though many historians note the work remains incomplete.

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