Overview

A critical analysis of African Americans' collective efforts to obtain educational equality before Brown v. Board of Education. The landmark Brown v. Board of Education case, which barred racial segregation in American public schools, wasn't the only path for Black parents, teachers, and activists who sought equality of educational opportunity. Some believed that the solution to inequality lay in pressing the federal government to live up to the Jim Crow doctrine of ""separate but equal"" by providing more resources to Black schools. And for a time, this seemed true in Washington, DC, where Black activists leveraged their status as residents of the nation's capital to advocate on behalf of Black education. However, disappointments with the ""separate but equal"" strategy and a sea change in activism led to an embrace of integration. In Nothing Less Than Equality, Tikia K. Hamilton reveals the rich and complex history of educational activism in Washington prior to Brown v. Board of Education, illuminating complex dynamics that provide a counterpoint and backdrop to the landmark Supreme Court case. Hamilton thoroughly examines the multipronged strategies employed by parents, teachers, attorneys, and activists to democratize education, demonstrating that there was no linear path to Brown.

Full Product Details

9780226846798

Table of Contents

Reviews

""In an extraordinary analysis of differing Black strategies for educational equality in Washington DC, Tikia Hamilton shines light on questions that continue to vex our unequal educational landscape. This pioneering work reveals the long afterlife of decades-old debates about equity, inclusion, and rights.""   -- Martha Biondi, Northwestern University

Author Information

Tikia K. Hamilton is assistant professor of history at Loyola University Chicago. 

Tab Content 6

Countries Available