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A spectacular book--the research alone is a tour de force. Harris makes an indisputable argument about the historical and ongoing role of the state in crippling Black higher education in a book that is passionate and a delight to read. --Ted Mitchell, President of the American Council on Education and former Under Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education Adam Harris is a brilliant storyteller. He has used his unique literary gifts to synthesize two centuries of history in order to construct an historical account of higher-education that reads like a novel. The State Must Provide is a book that both taught me so much and also kept me on the edge of my seat. It is an invaluable text from a supremely talented writer. --Clint Smith, author of How the Word is Passed Adam Harris's definitive and necessary book shows how thoroughly the U.S. has barred Black people from its halls of higher learning, and how high those barriers remain today. Harris's storytelling is vivid, his reporting is immaculate, and his case is damning. This book is a punch in the gut. Let it also be a line in the sand. --Ed Yong, author of I Contain Multitudes Illuminating.... A well-researched, potent, timely investigation of yet another element of systemic racism. --Kirkus Reviews (starred review) Profound and thought-provoking, this work is recommended for anyone who wants to understand the structural inequities of the U.S. educational system. --Library Journal (starred review) Adam Harris shows how the dark history of America's vaunted higher education system continues to prevent true equality. He's the kind of journalist we most need: meticulous in his research, careful in his thinking, passionate in his vision. This book is powerful, quietly angry, revelatory, and utterly persuasive.--George Packer, author of Last Best Hope and The Unwinding

[Harris's] account indicts a system that should be upholding higher ideals of equality while also offering ideas on what must change.--Literary Hub [Harris's] new book, The State Must Provide, explains how slavery, segregation and continuing racism prevented or stymied Black education. He examines some of the turning points when higher education could have been made equal and centuries of discrimination could have been remedied. He also writes about the important role historically Black colleges and universities have played and the reasons why they have remained underfunded.--NPR's Fresh Air A spectacular book--the research alone is a tour de force. Harris makes an indisputable argument about the historical and ongoing role of the state in crippling Black higher education in a book that is passionate and a delight to read. --Ted Mitchell, President of the American Council on Education and former Under Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education Harris's writing is as refreshing as it is haunting.... 'The State Must Provide' is a must-read, detailing the complex dynamics that both reflect our nation's dark history and show us the way toward a more equitable future. --New York Times Book Review Adam Harris debunks the myths and exposes the systemic racism that exists within the higher education system.... Through Harris' investigations, personal accounts and reporting, The State Must Provide gives an 'incisive, definitive history of HBCUs.' It is a telling of the critical failures that exist within the higher education system and how colleges in America have never given their Black students a real chance to succeed.--The Root Sharp and vigorous.... Fluently organized and lucidly written, this thought-provoking expose is a worthy contribution to the debate over how to make American education more equitable.--Publishers Weekly Adam Harris is a brilliant storyteller. He has used his unique literary gifts to synthesize two centuries of history in order to construct an historical account of higher-education that reads like a novel. The State Must Provide is a book that both taught me so much and also kept me on the edge of my seat. It is an invaluable text from a supremely talented writer. --Clint Smith, author of How the Word is Passed Illuminating.... A well-researched, potent, timely investigation of yet another element of systemic racism. --Kirkus Reviews (starred review) Profound and thought-provoking, this work is recommended for anyone who wants to understand the structural inequities of the U.S. educational system. --Library Journal (starred review) Adam Harris shows how the dark history of America's vaunted higher education system continues to prevent true equality. He's the kind of journalist we most need: meticulous in his research, careful in his thinking, passionate in his vision. This book is powerful, quietly angry, revelatory, and utterly persuasive.--George Packer, author of Last Best Hope and The Unwinding

"""Harris's writing is as refreshing as it is haunting.... 'The State Must Provide' is a must-read, detailing the complex dynamics that both reflect our nation's dark history and show us the way toward a more equitable future."" -- New York Times Book Review ""Adam Harris is a brilliant storyteller. He has used his unique literary gifts to synthesize two centuries of history in order to construct an historical account of higher-education that reads like a novel. The State Must Provide is a book that both taught me so much and also kept me on the edge of my seat. It is an invaluable text from a supremely talented writer."" -- Clint Smith, author of How the Word is Passed ""[Harris's] new book, ""The State Must Provide,"" explains how slavery, segregation and continuing racism prevented or stymied Black education. He examines some of the turning points when higher education could have been made equal and centuries of discrimination could have been remedied. He also writes about the important role historically Black colleges and universities have played and the reasons why they have remained underfunded."" -- NPR's Fresh Air ""Adam Harris debunks the myths and exposes the systemic racism that exists within the higher education system.... Through Harris' investigations, personal accounts and reporting, The State Must Provide gives an 'incisive, definitive history of HBCUs.' It is a telling of the critical failures that exist within the higher education system and how colleges in America have never given their Black students a real chance to succeed."" -- The Root ""[Harris's] account indicts a system that should be upholding higher ideals of equality while also offering ideas on what must change."" -- Literary Hub ""Illuminating.... A well-researched, potent, timely investigation of yet another element of systemic racism."" -- Kirkus Reviews (starred review) ""Profound and thought-provoking, this work is recommended for anyone who wants to understand the structural inequities of the U.S. educational system."" -- Library Journal (starred review) ""Sharp and vigorous.... Fluently organized and lucidly written, this thought-provoking exposé is a worthy contribution to the debate over how to make American education more equitable."" -- Publishers Weekly ""A spectacular book--the research alone is a tour de force. Harris makes an indisputable argument about the historical and ongoing role of the state in crippling Black higher education in a book that is passionate and a delight to read."" -- Ted Mitchell, President of the American Council on Education and former Under Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education ""Adam Harris shows how the dark history of America's vaunted higher education system continues to prevent true equality. He's the kind of journalist we most need: meticulous in his research, careful in his thinking, passionate in his vision. This book is powerful, quietly angry, revelatory, and utterly persuasive."" -- George Packer, author of Last Best Hope and The Unwinding ""Adam Harris's definitive and necessary book shows how thoroughly the U.S. has barred Black people from its halls of higher learning, and how high those barriers remain today. Harris's storytelling is vivid, his reporting is immaculate, and his case is damning. This book is a punch in the gut. Let it also be a line in the sand."" -- Ed Yong, author of I Contain Multitudes"

Author Information

ADAM HARRIS is a staff writer at The Atlantic, where he has covered education and national politics since 2018. He was previously a reporter at the Chronicle of Higher Education, where he covered federal education policy and historically Black colleges and universities. He is a 2021 New America Fellow and the recipient of the Rising Star Award by the News Media Alliance.

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