Berkeley's Pioneering School Integration: Kamala Harris's Formative Experience

In September 1970, Kamala Harris, then a 5-year-old girl, embarked on a journey that would shape her future. She became part of Berkeley's pioneering voluntary school desegregation program, an initiative that predated similar efforts across the United States by several years.

Berkeley's program, implemented without a court mandate, aimed to integrate schools by busing students between predominantly Black neighborhoods and White areas. This bold move came 16 years after the landmark Brown v. Board of Education ruling, which declared segregated schools unconstitutional.

The program's impact on participants was profound and varied. Many, including Harris, credit it with broadening their worldviews and enhancing their ability to navigate diverse environments. Michele Lewis, who like Harris was bused from the flatlands to a hill school, maintains that the experience shaped her positively:

"It really helped mold the person I am today."

However, the integration process was not without challenges. Some students reported tensions, particularly in the upper elementary grades. Geoffrey Prenter, a classmate of Harris, recalled:

"Some of the kids were really rough. They would scare you and corner you."

Despite these difficulties, many participants view the program as ultimately beneficial. It exposed them to different socioeconomic backgrounds and cultures, preparing them for life in a diverse society.

Harris's experience in Berkeley's desegregation program has influenced her political career. During a 2019 presidential primary debate, she highlighted this part of her background, contrasting it with Joe Biden's past opposition to busing. This moment became a defining point in her campaign, although tensions later eased when Biden chose her as his running mate.

The Berkeley program's implementation came at a time when national attitudes towards busing and integration were largely negative. A 1972 Harris Poll found that only 20% of Americans favored busing for racial balance in schools. However, recent surveys indicate growing support for school integration, with 71% of Americans believing it has improved education for Black students.

The long-term effects of Berkeley's desegregation efforts continue to resonate with participants. Many, like Doris Alkebulan, a Black woman who was part of the program, credit it with enhancing their ability to work in diverse environments:

"That's what Kamala brings. She can talk to different groups — men, women, nonbinary, Asian, Black, Latino. She's comfortable with that because she's seen it all her life."

As the United States continues to grapple with issues of racial equity and education, the Berkeley desegregation program stands as a testament to the complexities and potential benefits of integration efforts. For Harris and many others, it provided a formative experience that continues to shape their perspectives and actions in a multicultural America.