Wed,
10/18/2023 – 01:16pm | By: David Tisdale
Black educators’ role in the quest for civil rights in America has often been overlooked, deliberately excluded, and erased from historical narratives by those in positions of white economic and political power. However, Harvard University professor Dr. Jarvis Givens is working to change this narrative.
Dr. Givens discussed the history of Black American educators’ efforts to challenge the racist educational system that hindered the academic progress of African Americans. This included deliberate underfunding of Black schools, imposition of curriculums that suppressed non-conformist learning, and violent suppression of resistant teachers.
“Often overlooked in the story of the American Civil Rights Movement is the role of the teacher and the clandestine actions of African American educators in the face of opposition,” Dr. Givens said. He highlighted the significant role played by Black teacher associations in supporting the work of these educators.
Dr. Givens’ research, as seen in his works Fugitive Pedagogy and School Clothes, focuses on highlighting the influence of Black educators in the schools where they taught and the impact on their students, who were both oppressed and nurtured academically and socially in preparation to navigate a society where they faced marginalization and exclusion.
Dr. Givens also emphasized the work of renowned Black educator Carter Woodson, author of The Mis-Education of the Negro, and the educators inspired by him who challenged the hegemonic white power structures that controlled Black schools and curriculum. These educators risked their livelihoods and, in some cases, their lives to impart a more accurate understanding of American history to their students.
He also shared the story of Tessie McGee, a teacher at the Webster Parish Training School in Minden, Louisiana, who subverted the mandatory curriculum to teach her students about the untold stories of Black America.
“Fugitive pedagogy draws from the archetype of the fugitive slave,” Dr. Givens noted, in reference to the efforts of Black slaves to educate themselves in defiance of strict prohibitions.
Dr. Givens concluded by rejecting the notion that teachers are mere bureaucrats teaching to a test. He emphasized their historical sacrifices for their students and urged better preservation of the materials they have left behind, as well as the Black teacher associations that supported their efforts to provide a comprehensive education to their students.
The Clyde Kennard Lecture, where Dr. Givens shared his insights, is a significant event that honors the legacy of Clyde Kennard. Kennard, a native of Hattiesburg and a civil rights activist, faced unjust obstacles in his pursuit of education. Despite being falsely accused and convicted, he persevered and was posthumously declared innocent, symbolizing the resilience and determination in the face of systemic oppression.
USM education professor Dr. Tom O’Brien praised Dr. Givens for his groundbreaking work in Black educational history, highlighting his efforts to present a more comprehensive and accurate portrayal of the challenges faced by Black Americans in the realm of education.
Following his lecture, Dr. Givens reflected on Kennard’s legacy and expressed his gratitude for being part of honoring Kennard’s memory and his relentless pursuit of education for all.
To learn more about the USM Center for Black Studies and support the Kennard Lecture, visit their website.
