In anticipation of the fiftieth anniversary of the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision; Catherine Prendergast draws on a combination of insights from legal studies and literacy studies to interrogate contemporary multicultural literacy initiatives; thus providing a sound historical basis that informs current debates over affirmative action; school vouchers; reparations; and high-stakes standardized testing. As a result of Brown and subsequent crucial civil rights court cases; literacy and racial justice are firmly enmeshed in the American imagination—so much so that it is difficult to discuss one without referencing the other. Breaking with the accepted wisdom that the Brown decision was an unambiguous victory for the betterment of race relations; Literacy and Racial Justice: The Politics of Learning after Brown v. Board of Education finds that the ruling reinforced traditional conceptions of literacy as primarily white property to be controlled and disseminated by an empowered majority. Prendergast examines civil rights era Supreme Court rulings and immigration cases spanning a century of racial injustice to challenge the myth of assimilation through literacy. Advancing from Ways with Words; Shirley Brice Heath’s landmark study of desegregated communities; Prendergast argues that it is a shared understanding of literacy as white property which continues to impact problematic classroom dynamics and education practices. To offer a positive model for reimagining literacy instruction that is truly in the service of racial justice; Prendergast presents a naturalistic study of an alternative public secondary school. Outlining new directions and priorities for inclusive literacy scholarship in America; Literacy and Racial Justice concludes that a literate citizen is one who can engage rather than overlook longstanding legacies of racial strife.
#108880 in Books Hill and Wang 1997-01-15 1997-01-15Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.50 x .58 x 5.50l; .76 #File Name: 080901596X256 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Four StarsBy linda s ziskok0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. An excellent history of the abolitionist movement before the Civil WarBy Patricia A. WadeAn excellent history of the abolitionist movement before the Civil War.and after the war with reconstruction. Very detailed with the years and the people involved1 of 2 people found the following review helpful. A FEW GOOD WHITE FOLKSBy Lowell "RaceMan" Thompson"Holy Warriors" is a strong antidote to the history of white supremacy in America. It shows; to paraphraseMargaret Mead (I think) not only can the course of history be changed by a small; dedicated group; but thatmaybe history has always only been changed (at least non violently) by such a group.I actually bought the book as part of my research for my own book; "Good White Folks". As an AfrAmerican who grew upat the height of the Civil Rights Movement; I think its way past time to acknowledge the fact that although the overwhelming majorityof "whites" went along with Amerocrats who built our nation's (and their own) unconscionable wealth and power on the attempted annihilationof NatAmericans and the subjugation and dehumanization of AfrAmericans; a moral; courageous handful did not.Much more should be done to give them their due...and to give our children an alternative to conforming to the immoral; inhuman status quo we still live with.
