"Choice" has become the buzz word across the policy spectrum, especially in housing, schools, and health care. This talk questions the assumptions, ideology and philosophy undergirding public school choice, using data from two projects. The first focuses on how black community leaders work with whites to bring "choice" schools to a gentrifying black neighborhood in Chicago. The second interviews black parents navigating the landscape of public school "choice." Findings highlight the complicated role black community leaders play in both facilitating and hampering access to high quality public education for low-income African-Americans. Further findings suggest that socioeconomic differences influence, not only who "chooses," but also what black parents hope to gain when they do choose. While there is no definitive answer as to whether public school choice is good or bad for the black community, this research presents important empirical data which contribute to a better understanding of what is at stake in the educational policy of "choice."
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