Experiences of Black Students Enrolled in Elite White High Schools
The struggle for Black families seeking to acquire a quality education for their children is an old one. During slavery laws were passed that banned teaching Black people had to read. After emancipation new Jim Crow laws sought to keep Black children from getting a good education. However, it seemed that the Brown v. Board of Education case would end poor quality education through integration. And though integration of schools did improve in the 1970’s the trend did not last long. By the 1980’s public schools were becoming increasingly re-segregated with Black and Brown children concentrated in poverty zoned schools. Generations of Black parents sought and are still seeking ways to obtain a higher quality education for their children. Sometimes, the parents find a way to have their children attend elite private schools. In this episode we hear from Mark Robinson and Ray Smaltz who share their experiences of Thriving & Surviving in Privileged Spaces at the Dalton School in New York City. Dalton School in New York.
Mark and Ray recently published their book entitled: Young Black and Being in an Unexpected Place of Privilege. The book can be purchased at Barnesandnoble.com and target.com. Though they couldn’t be more different from each other, their experiences at Dalton were remarkably similar. While listening to them, many of us remembered our own experiences in New York’s City’s specialized high schools. There’s pride and achievement in the stories. But, there is pain too and its plain that the emotional costs for Black children in these spaces is high. We hope you enjoy: Thriving & Surviving in Privileged Spaces.