History of Institutional Racism

I'm way behind on my reading and my recommendations thereof; it's on my retirement to do list.

The History of Institutional Racism in US Public Schools is an unusual work. At first glance, one might think, "Oh, this is one of those graphic novel thingies," but the basis of the project is a huge work of art on three fifteen-foot canvases, created by Susan DeFresne, a teacher and activist.

I wish that the book had included an image of the work as a whole so that the reader could grasp the sheer size of DeFresne's project. But in all other respects, the book provides a thorough examination of the project.

Panels are presented, enlarged and in sequence, with some shown multiple times to focus on particular details. DeFresne's scope is large and even with her huge canvass, she has to take some broad strokes to get from 1501 to the present day. She looks at the handling of many ethnicities in the US system, including the "education" of Native Americans, a tough subject that often goes unaddressed.

But what's particularly striking and useful about this book is the materials that she has included. After the reader has a chance to look through and examine the full work, DeFresne walks us through it again, panel by panel, sharing her notes and providing the reader with ways to interact with the material. She suggests research and discussion topics, and recommends actions that the reader may take. As the back cover says, "the emphasis is on restorative justice and reconciliation."

So the work is not just a recording of a remarkable research and art project, but a challenge to interact with that project and consider the many ways that institutional racism has affected public education in this country. It's a challenging work, and white readers may have frequent attacks of the "yeah buts," but that's in keeping with the mission of the publisher, Garn Press. There's much to chew on in these eighteen panels, and a different sort of reading experience for those who pick up this book. It's a particularly good choice for book clubs or reading groups.

The book is available through most major outlets. You can order a copy today.