"Our race is a reality in the U.S. To deny the reality of race in the United State is to deny its history," he said.

A Changing City

Payzant argued that the city's present-day demographics mean that losing the "racial fairness" guidelines "would not have a dramatic impact on the composition of the schools."

Today's school system is 49 percent black, 26 percent Hispanic, 15 percent white and 9 percent Asian, essentially ensuring somewhat diverse schools regardless of the assignment plan, Payzant said.

School department simulations show that the recommendation would only affect the school assignment of very few of the total 13,000 who were assigned.

Less than 1,000 would see a change: one half would receive better choices, and one half lower choices lower on their list.

Willie characterized Payzant's data as "totally bogus."

"He shows no understanding of controlled choice," he said. Payzant's data falsely assumes that parents would choose the same schools as they would have with race-based restrictions, according to Willie.

"Under controlled choice, because the school has to accommodate the wants of everyone, parents look for good schools elsewhere in the city where they might not have looked before," he said.

Without racial fairness guidelines, Willie said, the choice data--and distribution of students--is likely to radically change.

The key, he said, is the new policy's 100 percent priority to individuals who live within school the "walk zones."

Willie explained that since the vast majority of schools in Boston's largely still residentially-segregated black community were closed down in the 1970s, proximity preference means that for the most part, white children will be able to attend the schools of their choice in their own neighborhoods, neighborhoods which are predominantly white.

"This policy has made black and Latino youngsters wayfarers to roam the city to find a school that nobody else wants to go to," he said.

Not only will schools become resegregated, but minorities will once again face the brunt of an unfair system, Willie said.

At Wednesday's press conference, Menino pledged renewed support to build five new neighborhood schools in Roxbury, Dorchester, and Mattapan--areas which are predominantly African-American communities that also have few schools.