School Desegregation, Interracial Exposure, and Antibusing Activity in Contemporary Urban America

Abstract

Prior research emphasized either resource mobilization or grievance explanations of antibusing activity. This article argues that both explanations imply that racial competition generated collective action against busing. It suggests that increases in interracial exposure in schools and neighborhoods trigger racial and ethnic conflict. This article examines these competition arguments using data on antibusing events, school desegration, and interracial residential exposure in SMSAs from 1968 through 1990. The results suggest that the amount of school desegregation significantly raised rates of protests against busing. Furthermore, there is little evidence that the federal origin of court-ordered busing increased antibusing activity.