We can talk about the “white response” to desegregation in the same way we can talk about any other historical event involving massive social change. This does not mean there is absolute uniformity. It means a pattern emerged and that by and large this is how members of said group reacted. For instance it is an undeniable fact that white flight from major cities occurred. Of course not everyone white person fled a city but, as we normally speak and communicate, it’s correct to say that white flight occurred.