City Cast Denver logo
September 8, 2021

Uncovering Denver's Complicated Legacy of Forced Busing

City Cast Denver

Uncovering Denver's Complicated Legacy of Forced Busing

00:00:00
View all City Cast Denver episodes

In the late ‘60s, Denver Public Schools began busing children across the city in an effort to desegregate our schools. Then came the pushback in the form of lawsuits, harassment of school board members, and in 1970, a bombing at the DPS bus depot off Federal Boulevard. But many Denverites’ memories of the busing era offer a more complicated story. Host Bree Davies sits down with Alicia “Lisa” Smith Young, director and producer of the new play “Busing,” which marks the first production from the new theater group IDEA Stages and tackles the legacy of Denver’s busing era with intergenerational stories of race and community. 


Interested in checking out the show? You can find tickets here: https://controlgroup.wellattended.com/events/sojourners-project-busing?httpsRedirect=tru


Want to know more about what’s going on in Denver? Check out and subscribe to our daily newsletter: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/


We’re always listening - get in touch with the City Cast Denver crew on Twitter: @citycastdenver

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Hey Denver

Stay connected to City Cast Denver and get ready to join the local conversation.

Can't subscribe? Turn off your ad blocker and try again.

Latest Episodes

See all
July 16

Is Childcare About to Get Cheaper? Plus, Local Venue Workers Unionize and What If Nightclubs Were Open Until 4 A.M.?

Parents and daycare providers have been sounding the alarm that childcare in Denver is expensive, hard to find, or hard to provide. This...

City Cast Denver podcast episode art
July 15

Would You Take the Bus to DIA? Plus, Long Lines at Water World and Colorado’s Road Rage Problem

Widening Peña Boulevard is still very much on the table, but DIA officials have recently agreed to explore options beyond just making mor...

City Cast Denver podcast episode art
July 14

Did the Media Give Sen. Hickenlooper a Pass? Plus, Turnover at Denver Central Market and GOP Voters Choose Victor Marx

Victor Marx is officially the Colorado Republican nominee for governor. The former marine who claims he’s performed exorcisms is now task...

City Cast Denver podcast episode art
July 13

Denver’s Best Burgers, a Jazzy New Wine Bar, and MAKFam’s Anticipated Expansion

Is a burger really a burger without cheese? Can a traditional patty compare to a smash patty? Does a burger taste better when it comes ou...

City Cast Denver podcast episode art
July 12

‘Your City Could Be Better’: Does Denver Have a ‘Perfect’ Airport? — Presented By City Cast Denver

There’s lots to love about Denver, but being able to get in and out of it easily and cheaply can be an underrated metric of its livabilit...

City Cast Denver podcast episode art
July 10

RIP FirstBank, DPS’s Superintendent Wants Out, and What’s Up With the DMV?

Goodbye, FirstBank! While PNC promised a smooth transition after it acquired the legacy “Colorado bank for you” for $4.1 billion, many cu...

City Cast Denver podcast episode art
July 9

Can Mayor Mike Claim a Win on Homelessness? Plus, Same-y Farmers Markets and McDonald's Fried Apple Pie

Did Denver really figure out how to solve homelessness? British news magazine The Economist recently touted Mayor Mike Johnston’s long-te...

City Cast Denver podcast episode art
July 8

City-Backed Theater Evicted, Casa Bonita Performers Allege Sexual Harassment, and LeBron to the Nuggets?

Since voting to unionize back in November of 2024, Casa Bonita performers have gone to the table 14 times to negotiate wages, security is...

City Cast Denver podcast episode art
July 7

What Cheap Parking Downtown Really Costs. Plus, Can BRT Be ‘Better’ on Colorado Boulevard?

Is the city’s new $5 downtown parking program worth it to Denverites? After Mayor Mike Johnston came on the show last week to talk up his...

City Cast Denver podcast episode art
July 6

A Phone Call With Former Sen. Gary Hart on How Politics Changed Forever

Two years ago, City Cast Denver producer Paul Karolyi interviewed a bona fide Colorado legend – two-term former Senator Gary Hart. He was...

City Cast Denver podcast episode art