When public schools were desegregated, people thought that simply having black and white kids attend school together would reduce stereotypes and prejudice. Given the literature on groups and prejudice, why did this approach not work?

Question

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Contact alone has been shown to not be enough to overcome deeply ingrained hostility and prejudice. It requires positive and equal interactions between the groups, as well as the presence of shared goals and values. Simply putting black and white students in the same classroom did not address the underlying prejudices and biases held by many members of each group.

When Public Schools Were Desegregated, People Thought That Simply Having