By The Editors
John Payton, speaking at one of the nation’s most historic black institutions of higher learning, takes on the challenging question – and assertion – President Obama’s election has inevitably raised: Does that mean the United States of America has become a “post-racial” society?

By Makani Themba-Nixon
Many children of color are trapped in underfunded schools where parents must fight for the most basic of needs: lighting, bathroom doors, books and even water.

Yes, water.

By Lee A. Daniels
As I’ve done for years, Sunday I quietly celebrated the coming of October 4, because I’ve always considered what happened on that date an integral part of the black freedom struggle—and my own good fortune.

On that day 52 years ago, the Soviet Union announced that it had successfully shot into orbit the world’s first man-made satellite: Sputnik.

By Smita Ghosh
Virginia City Considers Apology for School Segregation — Westchester Lawmakers Put Off Vote on Historic Housing Desegregation Settlement — TUSD: Discipline Colorblind — Help with Aid Form Found to Boost College Attendance — Latest Challenge in ‘Race to Top’: Find Review Team for Applicants — National Standards: Has the Time Finally Come? — N.Y.C. Charters Found to Close Gaps — Study Finds Mayor Bloomberg’s Boast on Graduation Rates Misleading — A Political Swirl on Charter Schools.

By Lee A. Daniels
The conventional wisdom has it that we’ve nearly exhausted our exploration of African-American history – that we know all of the “important” people and events and everything about the dynamics of America’s Slave, Reconstruction and Jim Crow eras.

Only a fool – or worse – would think so.

By Lee A. Daniels
The bizarre claims about Obama’s motives for giving the speech made by some white politicos and parents in recent weeks never had anything to do with the substance of the President’s talk. They were aimed at President Obama himself.

By TaRessa Stovall
Due to an innovative diversity effort that emphasizes where students come from rather than the color of their skin, most Berkeley, California, elementary schools are so well-integrated they may serve as a model for other schools around the nation.

By The Editors
A federal district judge Monday upheld the University of Texas at Austin’s use of race in its undergraduate admissions process, declaring that university officials had followed the diversity guidelines set by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2003.

By Smith Ghosh
District Court Judge revisits student assignment in Louisville… history of Virginia’s “massive resistance” to integration critically recounted… New Orleans parents discuss opposition to district’s desegregation plan… Massachusetts officials announce supportive charter school policy… Harvard researchers encourage regional charter schools to promote student integration… D.C. mayor reverses City Council decisions that would limit his control of education… New York City principal accuses charter schools of “dumping” challenged students.

By Smita Ghosh
The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund (LDF) was honored recently for its 2008 battle against deceptive anti-affirmative action ballot initiatives in five states.