--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is a commonplace by now to say that…" description: "\"It is a commonplace by now to say that the urban school systems of America contain a higher percentage of Negro children each year.\" — Jonathan Kozol" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b4/jonathan-kozol-2747_america_it-is-a-commonplace-by-now-to-say-that-t_502794.png" --- # It is a commonplace by now to say that the urban school… ![“It is a commonplace by now to say that the urban school systems of America contain a higher percentage of Negro children each year.” quote by Jonathan Kozol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b4/jonathan-kozol-2747_america_it-is-a-commonplace-by-now-to-say-that-t_502794.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b4/jonathan-kozol-2747_america_it-is-a-commonplace-by-now-to-say-that-t_502794.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b4/jonathan-kozol-2747_america_it-is-a-commonplace-by-now-to-say-that-t_502794.png) > “It is a commonplace by now to say that the urban school systems of America contain a higher percentage of Negro children each year.” [Jonathan Kozol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-kozol/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote highlights the growing proportion of Black students in U.S. urban schools, implying systemic segregation and inequality. **In simple terms:** More Black kids are in city schools, showing persistent segregation. Key Takeaway Address inequities in urban education. Themes education race urban policy inequality segregation Mood concerned urgent reflective Type analytical political social commentary When to use this quote - school board meetings - policy advocacy - community organizing - parental involvement Key Concepts systemic racism resource disparity demographic shifts Questions to Reflect On - How does demographic change affect resource allocation? - What policies can reduce segregation? A Different Perspective The statistic alone doesn't explain underlying causes or solutions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Commonplace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commonplace/) [Higher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/higher/) [Higher Percentage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/higher-percentage-3394321/) [Negro Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negro-children-4277507/) [Now](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/now/) [Percentage Negro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/percentage-negro-4277508/) [Percentages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/percentages/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [School Systems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school-systems-510457/) [Urban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/urban/) [Urban School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/urban-school-1997065/) [Year](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/year/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [We were the first urban school system in the country to wire all of our schools for the Internet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-menino/we-were-the-first-urban-school-system-in-the-country-to-wire-all-of/) [Thomas Menino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-menino/) > [As an urban school superintendent, I learned that hiring, training, and investing in professionals to support our children's social and emotional development, meeting academic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bennet/as-an-urban-school-superintendent-i-learned-that-hiring-training-and/) [Michael Bennet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bennet/) > [One of the great needs of Negro children is to have books about themselves and their lives that can help them be proud.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/langston-hughes/one-of-the-great-needs-of-negro-children-is-to-have-books-about/) [Langston Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/langston-hughes/) > [I believe, the NAACP began to try to organize parents of Negro children to file petitions with the boards of education regarding the integration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-baker/i-believe-the-naacp-began-to-try-to-organize-parents-of-negro/) [Ella Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-baker/) > [Gen. 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I mean, it was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/barack-obama-did-get-a-higher-percentage-of-the-vote-than-anybody-has/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [Interesting survey in the current Journal of Abnormal Psychology: New York City has a higher percentage of people you shouldn't make any sudden moves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/interesting-survey-in-the-current-journal-of-abnormal-psychology-new/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [“If I used a higher percentage of my brain I wouldn't of had to ride on the short bus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-victor-paskavich/if-i-used-a-higher-percentage-of-my-brain-i-wouldn-t-of-had-to-ride/) [Stanley Victor Paskavich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-victor-paskavich/) > [“Many Southern communities developed two school systems: an underfunded public system mostly attended by black students, and private schools set up for white children.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-green/many-southern-communities-developed-two-school-systems-an-underfunded/) [Kristen Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-green/) > [The system that had grown up in most states is that wealthy districts with an affluent population can afford to spend a lot more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/the-system-that-had-grown-up-in-most-states-is-that-wealthy-districts/) [William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/) > [“Public schools were not only created in the interests of industrialism—they were created in the image of industrialism. In many ways, they reflect the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-robinson/public-schools-were-not-only-created-in-the-interests-of/) [Ken Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-robinson/) > [“Something went greatly wrong in our collective history and the starting point of it was the industrial revolution. Our school systems are focussed on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martinus-hendrikus-benders/something-went-greatly-wrong-in-our-collective-history-and-the/) [Martinus Hendrikus Benders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martinus-hendrikus-benders/) > [I was home-schooled. My mom wasn't a fan of public school systems. She was scared of letting me go. 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They call the schools diverse, which means half black, half Hispanic, and maybe two white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-kozol/our-political-establishment-refuses-to-use-the-word-segregated-they/) [Jonathan Kozol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-kozol/) > ['Savage Inequalities' was about school finance, and 'Amazing Grace' primarily dealt with medical and social injustices in New York. But with 'Ordinary Resurrections,' I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-kozol/savage-inequalities-was-about-school-finance-and-amazing-grace/) [Jonathan Kozol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-kozol/) > [Discrimination is alive and soaring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-kozol/discrimination-is-alive-and-soaring/) [Jonathan Kozol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-kozol/) > [If you could lead through testing, the U.S. would lead the world in all education categories. 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