White Flight

Kevin M. Kruse is associate professor of history at Princeton University.

Co-Winner of the 2007 Best Book Award, Urban Politics Section of the American Political Science Association Winner of the 2007 Francis B. Simkins Award, Southern Historical Association Winner of the 2007 Malcolm Bell, Jr., and Muriel Barrow Bell Award for the Best Book in Georgia History, Georgia Historical Society "In White Flight, a study of white resistance to desegregation in Atlanta, Kruse produces a panoramic and engaging portrayal of the struggle over desegregation."--Ronald Brownstein, American Prospect "An ambitious, well-researched, and interesting study, White Flight offers a provocative examination of the connections between race and conservative politics."--Jeff Roche, Journal of American History "Kruse presents a nuanced portrayal of the trends that fostered the growth of the suburbs and the casting aside of racist demagoguery."--Jonathan Tilove, Times-Picayune "White Flight provides a detailed yet fascinating history of right-wing backlash against the civil rights movement that has relevance not only for historians but also for political scientists. Kevin Kruse's study deserves a wide reading."--R. Claire Snyder, New Political Science "In his book, Kevin Kruse analyzes the ideology accompanying white flight and its ongoing impact on American politics... In a beautifully written, clearly structured, and deeply researched narrative, Kruse lays out the historical processes that led to the development of modern conservatism."--Kristen O'Hare, Urban History Review "Kruse's ultimate success lies in using history to answer contemporary political questions, and without compromising his professional standards."--Clay Risen, Nashville Scene "In Kruse's skillful hands, Atlanta's struggle over integration takes on many of the characteristics of low-level urban warfare... Kruse illuminates a key phase in American political development."--Kimberley S. Johnson, Perspectives on Politics "Kruse provides a useful resource in the debate over the significance of race in politics. His book is thoroughly researched and well written. Students interested in modern politics and Civil Rights histories alike would greatly benefit from this work."--Jensen E. Branscombe, Southern Historian

• List of Illustrations ix Acknowledgments xi Introduction 3 CHAPTER ONE: "The City oo Busy to Hate": Atlanta and the Politics of Progress 19 CHAPTER TWO: From Radicalism to "Respectability": Race, Residence, and Segregationist Strategy 42 C HAPTER THREE: From Community to Individuality: Race, Residence, and Segregationist Ideology 78 CHAPTER FOUR: The Abandonment of Public Space: Desegregation, Privatization, and the ax Revolt 105 CHAPTER FIVE: The "Second Battle of Atlanta": Massive Resistance and the Divided Middle Class 131 CHAPTER SIX: The Fight for "Freedom of Association": School Desegregation and White Withdrawal 161 CHAPTER SEVEN: Collapse of the Coalition: Sit-Ins and the Business Rebellion 180 CHAPTER EIGHT: "The Law of the Land": Federal Intervention and the Civil Rights Act 205 CHAPTER NINE: City Limits: Urban Separatism and Suburban Secession 234 EPILOGUE: The Legacies of White Flight 259 List of Abbreviations 267 Notes 269 Index 313