In the next round of the Integrated Schools book club, we will be learning from Dr. Eve Ewing as we read her book Ghosts in the School Yard. A summary from Dr. Ewing’s website:
“In the spring of 2013, approximately 12,000 children in Chicago received notice that their last day of school would be not only the final day of the year, but also the final day of their school’s very existence. The nation’s third largest school district would eventually shutter 53 schools, citing budget limitations, building underutilization, and concerns about academic performance. Of the thousands of displaced students, 94% were low-income and 88% were African-American, leading critics to accuse district CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett and Mayor Rahm Emanuel of racism. “[The mayor] says that he wants to turn around the city of Chicago, make a new Chicago,” one activist told a reporter. “Does that new Chicago mean no black folks? Where are people going to go?”
Ghosts in the Schoolyard tells the story of these school closings, from their unfolding to their aftermath, in Bronzeville, a historically significant African-American community on the South Side of Chicago. The book details the resistance efforts of the residents of Bronzeville, inspired by the legacy of a storied past and driven to fight back against the malfeasance and disregard of city political leaders. But at its core, this is a book about what schools really mean to Americans and to African-Americans in particular, beyond the brick and mortar that compose them or the test scores and graduation rates that garner the most public attention. The book tells a story of love and loss, and the ongoing struggle of black people in America toward thriving livelihoods and self-determination.”
As more and more White and/or privileged folks are finding the racial injustices in our country harder to ignore, we know it is important to remember the Black and Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) have been fighting for justice in their communities for a long time and we have much to learn from them. We know that this book will be a reminder of that while also illuminating history.
We had record breaking attendance for our last book club where we discussed Dr. Jennifer Harvey’s Raising White Kids. Thanks for showing up, Integrated Schools family! We look forward to continuing the momentum with Ghosts in the School Yard. You can register for a session here and find a link to purchase the book through partnership with IndieBound. See you in September!
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