Black Cultural Capital

Activism That Spurred African American High Schools

Edited by:
Vanessa Garry, University of Missouri-St. Louis
E. Paulette Isaac-Savage, University of Missouri-St. Louis
Sha-Lai L. Williams, University of Missouri-St. Louis

A volume in the series: History of Education. Editor(s): R. Eric Platt, Sam Houston State University.

Published 2023

In antebellum America, Black children, even those of tax-paying Blacks in most states could not attend White public schools or in some states any schools. Nevertheless, with the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, Blacks assumed they would receive all inalienable rights granted to them as American freedmen. For most, the right to a proper public education for their children was paramount. Nevertheless, White educators often neglected or poorly implemented Black schools, especially secondary schools. With their reluctance to provide schools for Blacks, African American communities organized and petitioned school districts to develop Black schools on par with those for Whites. In the book, Black Cultural Capital: Activism that Spurred African American High Schools, authors describe the role of the Black community in the development of high schools. Their narratives reveal White educators’ unwillingness to implement state laws requiring the education of all children. Their lack of engagement galvanized Blacks to petition boards to adhere to the law. Additionally, they forced school districts to hire Black teachers and provide facilities for Black children equal to those of White children. The fruits of their labor enabled Black children to attend suitable facilities, as well as learn from Black teachers who attended outstanding White and Black colleges and universities. Furthermore, stories of the high schools illustrate how communities sprouted up around them during their heydays as well as, for some, their demise as laws and court decisions eradicated Jim Crow and enabled all Americans to live and learn where they desired.

ENDORSEMENTS:

"Throughout America, the freedom dreams of Black people and the intellectual currents that guided them were first unleashed within one-room schoolhouses, dilapidated shacks, and church basements that were converted into laboratories of discovery and dissent. In short – Black spaces matter and have always mattered in the struggle for Black liberation. The authors of Black Cultural Capital have delivered one of the most comprehensive collection of essays to date that highlight the monumental legacy and rich history of America’s first Black high schools. Utilizing a vast array of sources, the authors have created an intimate portrait of the struggle to carve out historic spaces that educated and affirmed Black youth while simultaneously countering pernicious systems of white supremacy that sought to undermine them at every step. This volume of essays is a must have for any serious scholar or student of the Black freedom struggle in America." — Jelani M. Favors, North Carolina A&T State University

"This is a long-awaited, quintessential contribution to our still-incomplete knowledge and understanding of the unique but intertwined histories of Black education and secondary schools in the United States. The narratives are incisive, enlightening, and inspiring. A welcome advancement to the historical foundations of education." — Tondra L. Loder-Jackson, The University of Alabama at Birmingham

"At a time when there is a deservingly greater appreciation for historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), we must also remember that K-12 Black high schools played a pivotal role in anchoring communities and creating a sense of place and freedom for Black people. In this edited book, Black Cultural Capital: Activism that Spurred African American High Schools, Drs. Vanessa B. Garry, E. Paulette Isaac-Savage, and Sha-Lai L. Williams produced a timely and much-needed book about the significant role Black high schools have historically--and continue to play--in Black communities and the Black freedom struggle. With detailed historical case studies of Black high schools throughout the United States, the various authors illuminate how these schools served as pillars in Black communities." — Jerome Morris, The University of Missouri - St. Louis

CONTENTS
Preface, Jared R. Stallones. Introduction: Black Cultural Capital: Activism That Spurred African American High Schools, Vanessa Garry, E. Paulette Isaac-Savage, and Sha-Lai L. Williams. Institute for Colored Youth (Cheyney University): Philadelphia, PA, Molly E. O’Connor. Lincoln High School during De Jure Segregation: Exploring the Importance of Social and Cultural Capital, Bradley Poos, Loyce Caruthers, and Marceline Cooley. The Sumner High School: An Educational Landmark Made by the Black Community, E. Paulette Isaac-Savage and Vanessa Garry. A Historical Study of I.M. Terrell High School: Its Legacy and Implications for Improved Education of Black Students, Tasha Coble Ginn. Frederick Douglass High School, Baltimore, William P. Kladky. “We’re Your Sons and Daughters…Guide Us as We Go”: The Role of Harbison Junior College, Richlex School, and Their Communities in the Development of Cultural Capital, Vann Holden. Douglass High School (1891–): A Place of Justice and Hope in Oklahoma City, Autumn B. Brown and Lucy E. Bailey. A Labor of Love: The Origin, Development, and Legacy of A.H. Parker High School in Birmingham, Alabama, Penny S. Seals. A Portrait of Como High School, Fort Worth, Texas, Altheria Caldera. Beyond the Years: Dunbar High School 1916–1968, M. Francyne Huckaby, Stephanie Cuellar, Michelle Nguyen, Leslie Ekpe, Rachel Brooks, Kellton Hollins, and Jonathan W. Crocker. For the Good of the Whole: Restor(y)ing the History of Georgia’s First Black Public High School, Amber M. Neal-Stanley. Turn Around, Reach Back, Lead: Legacy and Lives of the Howard W. Blake High School, Vonzell Agosto, Jacqueline K. Haynes, and Ann Marie Mobley. Epilogue, Vanessa Garry, E. Paulette Isaac-Savage, and Sha-Lai L. Williams. Biographies.