A question for those alive during the 50’s:
Are there any ties between Sputnik and desegregation of American schools?
Did sputnik in any way lead/encourage desegregation?
Was losing the space race blamed on integration of schools?
The Supreme Court handed down its decision on Brown vs Board of Education that desegregated public schools in 1954, and Sputnik was launched in 1957, so if there is any relationship, it is the reverse of what you suggested.
I was in 10th grade in 1957, when Sputnik was launched. Never before this thread have I thought of Sputnik and integration as related.
There was no discussion of a link between the two at the time, and after some reflection, I can’t see a connection now.
I really don’t think that EVIL rock ‘n’ roll music had anything to do with Sputnik or integration either, but I’m sure a case could be made if someone really wanted to… 
This may apply to the late 50’s and early 60’s.
The Russian’s got good PR because of Sputnik. The US was getting bad PR because of racism and this was being spread around the world by TELEVISION. This could give American politicians an incentive to oppose racism and promote the space race even tho they didn’t really want to do either.
Sputnik certainly promoted science education in the schools.
Dal Timgar