Chapter 2: An Unsteady March Toward Equity: The Social and Political Contexts of African American Educational Attainment

Academic outcomes in primary and secondary education are critical components to future higher education enrollment, completion, and lifelong career success. Although the pursuit of higher education is considered “choice-based,” educational credentials acquired in compulsory education affect the types of postsecondary “choices” available to students (Brown, 1999b). Yesterday and today, the physical presence of African American students in a school or classroom does not mean they will be given fair and equitable treatment. Examining the historical and sociopolitical contexts under which African Americans attained primary and secondary education reveals their unique struggle as well as a deeper understanding of what is required to reshape their educational experiences in more equitable ways.