The Battle for the Black Mind

"Like a flag planted on alien soil, her book stakes a claim on Black education as central to American history. The book shows how Black Americans fit, or did not fit, into institutions of instruction over the past two centuries…Brown writes a personal history of coming to terms with what it means to be educated and Black in America. She sounds a call for activism in response to governmental scaling back of diversity initiatives and the recognition of African American achievement. Familiar names from Black history take on new urgency here... the book offers an effective and forceful guide charting Black history. Written in a vivid vernacular by a gifted teacher, it speaks for a generation of students who are asking “questions that demand justice and recognition."—Kirkus Reviews

"Karida L. Brown lays bare the ongoing fight for Black minds with precision and depth in her groundbreaking book. Through meticulous research and a compelling narrative, Brown guides readers through this struggle, past and present, never allowing us to forget the transformative power of Black educators and thinkers."—Bettina Love, New York Times bestselling author of Punished for Dreaming

“The persistent challenges to rearing healthy, well-educated Black children are legion and solutions have been scarce. The timely and persuasive The Battle for the Black Mind by Karida L. Brown, provides us with both an impeccable history and implementable remedies, large and small, that will equip Black minds to flourish. Educators, sociologists, parents, and child-advocacy organizations will all benefit from this astute and engaging analysis.”—Harriet A. Washington, National Book Critics Circle Award-winning author of Medical Apartheid

“Whenever I see Karida L. Brown's name on a book, I buy it without hesitation. Brown is a leading authority on American education and its impact on Black students. The Battle for the Black Mind is a vital addition for anyone genuinely invested in the intersections of race, education, and the future of Black students.”—Lawrence C. Ross, Jr., National bestselling author of The Divine Nine

“In a book that could not be more timely, Karida L. Brown reminds readers that today's battles over race and education are neither novel nor new. The Battle for the Black Mind recounts, with verve and clarity, the journey that African American children, communities, and educators have endured in the quest for knowledge. Their valiant strivings have produced generations of excellence and enduring innovations in public education. And still, Brown forcefully urges, that has not been enough. And still, Brown courageously steps up to the challenges of our moment in The Battle for the Black Mind, matching scholarly insight with an activist call-to-action. Read this book to be inspired and to equip yourself for the challenges ahead.”—Martha S. Jones, author of The Trouble of Color

"Karida L. Brown has graciously provided us with the results of her meticulous research combined with her compassionate concern about our well-being as we continue to learn how to navigate this insidious racial terrain we have inherited. Once you start reading, you will not want to put this book aside. In these pages you will discover that history is not some artifact from the distant past, but is simply, and merely, antecedent to all that is occurring now."—Terrence J. Roberts, author of Lessons from Little Rock and one of the Little Rock Nine

"This book foregrounds important strategies of the heart and mind employed by Black people to resist miseducation, and in doing so, it provides useful tools for those seeking to do battle for educational justice today. This book is extraordinary in that it helps clarify just how extensive the assault on the black mind has been in the context of schooling."—Jarvis R. Givens, author of School Clothes