Struggle for Black History: Foundations for a Critical Black Pedagogy in Education

The Struggle for Black History: Foundations for a Critical Black Pedagogy in Education captures the controversy that surrounds the implementation of Black studies in schools’ curricula. This book examines student experiences of a controversial Black history program in 1994 that featured critical discourse about the historical role of racism and its impact on Black people. The program and its continuing controversy is analyzed by drawing from the analyses of Elijah Muhammad, Carter G. Woodson, Maulana Karenga, Molefi Asante, Paulo Freire, Peter McLaren, James Banks, and others. Professors Abul and Esrom Pitre and Professor Ruth Ray use case studies and student experiences to highlight the challenges faced when trying to implement Black studies programs.

This study provides the reader with an illuminating picture of critical pedagogy, critical race theory, multicultural education, and Black studies in action. The book lays the foundation for what the authors term ＂critical Black pedagogy in education,＂ which is an examination of African American leaders, scholars, students, activists, their exegeses and challenge of power relations in Black education. In addition, the book provides recommendations for schools, parents, students, and activists interested in implementing Black studies and multicultural education.

Abul Pitre is the former Carter G. Woodson Professor of Education at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania and current Professor of Education at Southern University. Ruth Ray is the department chair at Louisiana State University Shreveport where she teaches courses in Educational Leadership. Esrom Pitre is Assistant Professor of Education at Denver Metropolitan University where he teaches Multicultural Education.