“Out of the Mouths of Babes”: Testimonies of Black Student Experiences in a Modern-Day Segregation Academy

Abstract

AbstractWhile many studies have examined the historic and modern impacts of school desegregation legislation on the schooling experiences of Black students in public schools, few have examined the racialized nature of private religious schools. To address this gap, this study explored the experiences of Black, middle school students attending a “modern-day segregation academy,” a contemporary private Christian school whose beginnings can be traced to the implementation of school desegregation legislation. Framed in BlackCrit theory, findings suggest the school reproduced a climate of antiblackness that permeated school culture, curriculum, peer interactions, and pedagogy. In response, Black students implemented various acts of subversive agency to maintain joy, humanity, and faith. This study reinforces the importance of racially affirming spaces, and necessitates the development of pedagogies, practices and policies that honor the spirit of Black students, in all school settings.Keywords: Brown v. Board of Educationhistory of educationBlackCrit theoryreligious educationsegregation academies