The Burning House: Educating Black Boys in Modern America

By Desmond Williams

The education of Black boys is of national concern. School leaders, teachers, parents and stakeholders across the country are working to address the dropout crisis, special education referrals, the school-to-prison pipeline and other barriers that prevent African American boys from excelling. In The Burning House, award-winning educator and former principal, Desmond Williams examines the problems plaguing African American boys through a different lens. Williams address the school-to-prison pipeline, special education, and discipline referrals, as metaphorical rooms within a burning house. Williams examines race consciousness and the impact of white supremacy on teacher ability to navigate the flames of the burning house. Having served as a fire marshal (principal) and firefighter (teacher) for nearly 20 years, Williams's work is a call to enact a different framework for educating Black males in the 21st century.

Williams shares personal anecdotes, undergirded by current data and the voices of prominent educators and scholars. Inspired by Dr. King's post-civil rights thinking, Williams thoroughly evaluates the educational advancement of some African Americans in relation to the whole. If teachers are willing to move beyond mere teaching to become firefighters for Black boys, this work should be read and thoroughly examined.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1079531882
• ISBN13: 9781079531886
• Release Date: February 2020
• Publisher: Nylinka Shool Solutins
• Length: 228 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.0" x 9.0"