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HISTORY OF ANTIRACISM IN EDUCATION
A TIMELINE
1800S
Black Literary Societies
Middle and upper class free black organizations
Built literacy for civic education
American Missionary Association
Abolitionist-minded group
Sent teachers to south post-emancipation
Established primary schools, high schools, and universities in Black communities
Free Public Education
Black communities advocated for public education
Their efforts resulted in public schools not just for Black students, but for White students in the South
Black Community Schools
Black communities advocated for Black educators to teach and lead schools for Black students
Black-run schools were pillars in the community
1900S
Antiracist Textbooks
Scholars and educators critically interrogated racist narratives of people of color in textbooks
Scholars wrote textbooks that countered the racist narrative of people of color
School Integration
NAACP mounted a campaign to to integrate schools across the nation
Brown V. Board of Education ruled that segregation was unconstitutional
Bilingual Education
After the integration of San Francisco schools, schools failed to provide education for English Language Learners
Kinney Kinmon Lau and other Chinese students filed a class action suit
Lau v. Nichols ruling effectively required English Language Learner programs across the country's schools
Freedom Schools
Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee fought against the miseducation of Black communities by establishing Freedom Schools
Freedom Schools offered intensive summer programs that promoted civic education
Black Panther Liberation Schools
Black Panthers formed the Intercommunal Youth Institute (later known as the Oakland Community School)
The school's mission was to equip students with the knowledge to navigate racist systems and structures--to educate to liberate.
Ethnic Studies
The Third World Liberation Front strike at San Francisco State University
Ethnic studies is established as a result of this strike
Learning for Justice
The Southern Poverty Law Center founded Learning for Justice, formerly known as Teaching Tolerance
Learning for Justice went on to become a staple for educators, winning multiple awards for its quality publications and films which have been accessed by hundreds of thousands of educators
Culturally Responsive Teaching
Dr. Gloria Ladson-Billings coined the concept of Culturally Relevant Pedagogy, a framework of pedagogy that recognizes students' cultural backgrounds and equips them to confront societal racism
Building on Dr. Ladson-Billings' work, Dr. Geneva Gay coined Culturally Responsive Teaching which provides teachers with tools and strategies to implement Culturally Relevant Pedagogy
2000S
Free Minds, Free People
The first annual conference convened educators from across the nation to discuss and define the work of education for liberation
The conference has since been offered biannually
Black Lives Matter at School
The bold actions of educators of John Muir Elementary in Seattle, Washington inspired the city's educators to initiate a day of action
The action spread through the nation, evolving into a week of action and a year of purpose
Educators for Antiracism Conference
During a summer of nation-wide protests the educators from across the country grassroots organized a week-long conference on antiracism
This conference was attended by educators from all 50 states and 24 countries
The nonprofit Educators for Antiracism was established
Abolitionist Teaching Network
ATN was launched in the summer of 2020
ATN connects educators to activists, scholars, and resources necessary to engage in the work of abolition and antiracism in education
Scholarly Work
Scores of publications studying antiracism in education have been produced over the past decades
These resources span all aspects of education
Groups and Organizations
Groups working towards antiracism in education have mobilized in every corner of the country
Teacher/ Administrator Education
Colleges and Universities began offering certificates and degrees in education with a focus on antiracism
Timeline Feedback
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