Final answer:
The excerpt summarizes that North Carolina needs new legislation to facilitate school desegregation. The historical context shows efforts like the Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education case that supported busing for racial balance in schools, indicating persistent resistance but eventual progress in integration practices.
Step-by-step explanation:
The best statement that summarizes the provided excerpt is: North Carolina needs a new law to make it easier to integrate schools. The excerpt pertains to the historical efforts of desegregation in Southern states, exemplified by the case of Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education. In this case, the Supreme Court upheld busing as a legal method to achieve racial balance in schools. Despite initial success in cities like Charlotte, which became known for making desegregation work, there was a nationwide pattern of resistance to integration in public schools.
Even after the Brown v. Board of Education decision, which ruled that state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students were unconstitutional, resistance persisted. States delayed integration using various means, and some White communities established private 'segregation academies'. The push for desegregation faced numerous challenges, but ultimately led to widespread changes in school integration practices across the United States.