Sixty years after the Supreme Court declared separate schools for black and white children unconstitutional, FRONTLINE examines the comeback of segregation in America. The film focuses on Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where a group of mostly white parents are trying to form their own city with its own separate school district, leaving behind a population of black students. Through the battle in Baton Rouge, FRONTLINE shows the growing racial divide in American schools and the legacy of Brown v. Board of Education. Also this hour: FRONTLINE updates the story of Omarina Cabrera, a struggling student from the Bronx who today is excelling at an elite prep school in New England due to a groundbreaking program to stem the high school dropout crisis. Drawing on the 2012 film, Middle School Moment, FRONTLINE follows Omarina’s achievements and challenges and shows the contrasts to her twin brother, who has remained in the Bronx.
Frontline's "Separate and Unequal" airs on Thursday, July 17th at 7 pm.