Final answer:
Massey and Denton attribute current educational segregation to historical de jure segregation and systemic discrimination like redlining and Jim Crow laws, which have created enduring de facto segregation and resource disparities in schools.
Step-by-step explanation:
In American Apartheid (1993), Massey and Denton argued that educational segregation today is a direct result of historical policies and systemic discrimination, such as redlining and Jim Crow laws, which have led to a lasting impact on the distribution of resources and opportunities. This resulted in persistent de facto segregation, where despite the legal end of segregation, inequalities continue because communities and schools remain divided along racial lines due to socioeconomic factors and past discriminatory practices.
De facto segregation in schools is linked to legacy effects of de jure segregation in housing and other areas of life which led to racial and economic isolation. The lasting impact of these policies means that many students of color still attend under-resourced schools in segregated neighborhoods. Even after the government has legally abolished discriminatory practices, the structures and systems put in place take a long time to change, leading to continued disparities in educational outcomes.