In Radical Brown: Keeping the Promise to America’s Children (Harvard Education Press, 2024), renowned developmental scholar Margaret Beale Spencer and legal analyst Nancy E. Dowd offer a transformative reexamination of the landmark Brown decision, says reviewer Amy J. Good.
PHOTO COURTESY OF HARVARD EDUCATION PRESS.
On May 17, 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court stated that “separate educational facilities are inherently unequal.” The Brown v. Board of Education decision was a significant victory for the civil rights movement, galvanizing efforts to end segregation and discrimination. Overall, Brown remains a crucial milestone in the fight for civil rights. Its legacy continues to influence discussions about race and equality and inspired the writing of this book.
In Radical Brown: Keeping the Promise to America’s Children (Harvard Education Press, 2024), renowned developmental scholar Margaret Beale Spencer and legal analyst Nancy E. Dowd offer a transformative reexamination of the landmark Brown decision. Their work is a call to reimagine education equality in the face of decades of flawed implementation that have undermined the original promise of this pivotal ruling. There are several books related to the Brown court case, but few that provide a reflection 70 years later.
Spencer and Dowd have distinct qualifications to author this book. Spencer is a distinguished developmental psychologist known for her influential work on the intersections of race, education, and child development. Dowd is a prominent legal scholar and professor known for her work in critical legal studies focusing on family law, gender, and race. The authors ask why there are Black communities that are still separate and unequal seven decades after Brown. They put forth the thesis that the original promise of Brown has largely gone unfulfilled. They argue that Brown does not adequately address the lives of both Black and White children. Spencer and Dowd continue to address the ongoing impacts of what they call systemic racism while proposing action items to move toward a more equal future for all children. They note the fact that while Brown was thought-provoking, it was incomplete.
Spencer and Dowd explore the historical context of Brown, unpacking the inequalities and segregation that prompted the Supreme Court’s intervention. The authors’ proposal for a new framework advocates for an all-inclusive, culturally sensitive version that honors the ruling’s original intent while also providing practical suggestions for educators, policymakers, and community leaders. What makes Radical Brown so impactful is its combination of scholarship and an accessible narrative that speaks to a broad audience. The authors challenge the reader to think about the uncomfortable parts of history and reconsider how they might contribute to the solution.
There are many strengths of the book, including powerful presentations from the perspectives of history, law, psychology, and social justice. Another valuable asset is the significant contribution to the discourse on race, education, and social justice. The organization of this book is the best feature, with three broad themes that are substantial yet easy to digest. The context of history, including slavery, emancipation, and reconstruction, is an important review. While many would want to position this in the past, the authors present how this history reaches into lives today.
In the next part, "Humanity," the authors help readers understand complex terms such as intersubjectivity and intersectionality, and theories such as colorism and identity complexity. The authors ask us to see this not as Black and White but as a call to improve humanity.
The final part, "Implementing Radical Brown," offers a road map to improved programs. The book is a reminder of the need for ongoing action and the need for equitable education. It is a call to reflect on historical injustices and the paths forward.
The authors inspire readers to reread Brown through multiple perspectives, which helps to deepen the understanding of its impact on American society, law, and racial justice.
With these perspectives in mind, who should read this book? Radical Brown is particularly valuable for individuals across a variety of fields and roles who are interested in educational equity, social justice, and policy reform. Teachers, principals, and school administrators can benefit from the book’s guidance on creating school environments that honor the identities and experiences of all students. Those involved in legislation will find Radical Brown relevant for understanding how policies can perpetuate or dismantle systemic inequities. Overall, anyone invested in seeing education become a true equalizer, especially in contexts where race, identity, and socioeconomics intersect, will find the book’s ideas timely and thought-provoking.
This book is a powerful contribution to the discourse on education and civil rights. It is a call to keep movement in the civil rights movement. It offers a way to focus on the future, using the promises of Brown as the path to ensure the rights of all students are protected. It is essential for anyone invested in America’s future, providing an energizing, compelling call to action that could be used to improve the lives of children in society today.
Amy J. Good (a.good@charlotte.edu) is an associate professor of education at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte.