The Battle for the Black Mind

by Karida L. Brown Ph.D

Overview

From a NAACP award-winning historian and Fulbright scholar, a history of education in the United States from the end of the Civil War to the historic ruling of Brown v. Board of Education.

In The Battle for the Black Mind, Dr. Karida Brown explores the struggle to define and control the education of African Americans amid shifting societal attitudes and forms of systemic exclusion. From the perspective of freed slaves seeking empowerment and liberation through education, to the white elites aiming to shape the future of the workforce and consolidate power, The Battle for the Black Mind explores the formation of segregated education systems and the influence of philanthropic organizations, religious institutions, and Black educators themselves in shaping these structures. It also examines the global reach of these education models, particularly their impact on African societies under colonial rule. 

Ultimately, Dr. Brown presents a critical investigation of the foundational roots of racial inequality in American education, arguing that it wasn't just about the separation of institutions—but about controlling access to the ideals of American democracy.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781538768433
Publisher:	Grand Central Publishing
Publication date:	05/13/2025
Pages:	256
Product dimensions:	6.35(w) x 9.30(h) x (d)

About the Author

Karida L. Brown is an NAACP Image Award-winning author and public intellectual. A professor at Emory University, Brown is a leading scholar of systemic racism and the study of Black life. Her work, which spans over a decade of groundbreaking research and analysis, has earned her both national and international acclaim. She is the author co-author of The New Brownies' Book: A Love Letter to Black Families, continuing the legacy of W.E.B. Du Bois by centering Black narratives and empowering Black futures.
 

Editorial Reviews

"Karida L. Brown lays bare the ongoing fight for Black minds with precision and depth in her groundbreaking book. Through meticulous research and a compelling narrative, Brown guides readers through this struggle, past and present, never allowing us to forget the transformative power of Black educators and thinkers."—Bettina Love, New York Times bestselling author of Punished for Dreaming

“The persistent challenges to rearing healthy, well-educated Black children are legion and solutions have been scarce. The timely and persuasive The Battle for the Black Mind by Karida L. Brown, provides us with both an impeccable history and implementable remedies, large and small, that will equip Black minds to flourish. Educators, sociologists, parents, and child-advocacy organizations will all benefit from this astute and engaging analysis.”—Harriet A. Washington, National Book Critics Circle Award-winning author of Medical Apartheid

“Whenever I see Karida L. Brown's name on a book, I buy it without hesitation. Brown is a leading authority on American education and its impact on Black students. The Battle for the Black Mind is a vital addition for anyone genuinely invested in the intersections of race, education, and the future of Black students.”—Lawrence C. Ross, Jr., National bestselling author of The Divine Nine

“In a book that could not be more timely, Karida L. Brown reminds readers that today's battles over race and education are neither novel nor new. The Battle for the Black Mind recounts, with verve and clarity, the journey that African American children, communities, and educators have endured in the quest for knowledge. Their valiant strivings have produced generations of excellence and enduring innovations in public education. And still, Brown forcefully urges, that has not been enough. And still, Brown courageously steps up to the challenges of our moment in The Battle for the Black Mind, matching scholarly insight with an activist call-to-action. Read this book to be inspired and to equip yourself for the challenges ahead.”—Martha S. Jones, author of The Trouble of Color

"Karida L. Brown has graciously provided us with the results of her meticulous research combined with her compassionate concern about our well-being as we continue to learn how to navigate this insidious racial terrain we have inherited. Once you start reading, you will not want to put this book aside. In these pages you will discover that history is not some artifact from the distant past, but is simply, and merely, antecedent to all that is occurring now."—Terrence J. Roberts, author of Lessons from Little Rock and one of the Little Rock Nine

"This book foregrounds important strategies of the heart and mind employed by Black people to resist miseducation, and in doing so, it provides useful tools for those seeking to do battle for educational justice today. This book is extraordinary in that it helps clarify just how extensive the assault on the black mind has been in the context of schooling."—Jarvis R. Givens, author of School Clothes

From the Publisher