Final answer:
The high levels of black/white segregation in the U.S. are a result of historical de jure segregation from laws such as Jim Crow, the long-standing societal attitudes from centuries of practiced separation, and contemporary patterns like white flight and economic disparities that sustain de facto segregation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The U.S. has such high levels of black/white segregation due to a complex interplay of historical, legal, and social factors. First, the lingering effects of de jure segregation from the Jim Crow era and Plessy v. Ferguson mandated separate facilities for different races, reinforcing notions of inferiority and superiority anchored on racial distinctions. Although the Brown v. Board of Education decision in 1954 legally ended segregation, the societal norms and attitudes that had been institutionalized over the 335 years prior have been slow to change.
Following legal desegregation, de facto segregation has maintained the racial divide through numerous channels, such as 'white flight,' which saw white populations moving to suburbs, leaving urban areas and schools predominantly populated by people of color. This self-segregation has endured into the twenty-first century, further exacerbated by economic disparities and ongoing racism that trap many black individuals in impoverished neighborhoods. The legacy of these patterns affects educational and economic opportunities today, perpetuating a cycle of separation and inequality.