William Allen High School (WAHS) was once a pillar of success. From a growing student body to a successful vocational wing, the high school was the epicenter of the district and the city for over a century. Today, however, WAHS evokes a different image. Between 1960 and 2020, WAHS evolved from a predominately White and high-achieving institution,…

This historical research study examines how seven African Americans used their civilian education and military training to prepare themselves for combat, execute combat operations in France, and later make lasting contributions to American society. The knowledge constructed in this study derives from an exhaustive review of primary and secondary…

This study is a cautionary tale about Black pushout and the fragility of fugitive spaces in the context of an afterschool Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) club designed for Black high school students. This historical case study examines this club from its beginning in 2014 until its end in the spring of 2019 and focuses on…

This research attempts to shed light on the persistence of the separate but equal ideology. An opinion that was ruled unconstitutional in 1954 by the US Supreme Court. Failure by the Holmes County School Board through intentional delays and legalities compelled Beatrice Alexander to file a civil court case with the District Court for the Southern…

This study was guided by the central research question: "What are the lived experiences and perceptions of former African American teachers and students that endured segregation, desegregation, and integration in Arkansas' Delta?" The phenomenological study used eight former African American teachers and student participants. Of the…

The purpose of this critical autoethnographic study was to explore, (a) the role that race played in shaping my responses to demographic changes in the public school district that I served, (b) how I could use this new understanding to improve my practice as an educational leader, and (c) how my research and experience could serve as a model for…

This qualitative research examined the experiences of college students at 4-year liberal arts colleges who identified as Afro Latin with their non-Latin(o/a/x) Black and Latino peers and how those experiences affected their sense of belonging. Frequently, student affairs leaders and practitioners assume most, if not all, students of color on…

This dissertation centers on research at the intersection of labor, public, and urban economics. Chapter 1 details the role, process, and history of census tract delineation prior to each Decennial Census, and investigates short- and long-run implications of neighborhoods that receive further delineation, or become "split". Using a…

This dissertation is a historical study of the teacher labor force with a particular focus on race. It sought to explore changes in the Black teacher labor market after desegregation through the examination of factors related to Black college graduates becoming teachers; Black teachers' migration patterns during the final years of integration…

In the early 1930s, racial segregation was still dominant in the United States. As laws and regulations were changing to improve the lives of minorities, private lenders were simultaneously creating loopholes that would allow them to circumvent these very regulations meant to enforce the separate but equal doctrine from 1896. To ensure that…

Educators in inner-city schools face many challenges in meeting the needs of students. Examples of such issues that are specific to urban public schools include poverty, ethnic segregation, broad-spectrum discrimination, poor policies, low student performance, inexperienced teaching staff, and low expectations of students. The general problem is…

This research utilized historical analysis, narrative inquiry, and oral history to document and analyze Black educational experiences in the Chapin, Dutch Fork, and Irmo communities during segregation and desegregation. Archival materials from the local school district offered insight into district leaders' attitudes towards Richlex, the only…

This co-authored qualitative case study explores the problem of teachers connecting with their students especially at the middle school level. While research has established the need for teachers to better understand the background experiences of their students, more research is needed to explore the value of place-based professional development…

The front pages of the nation's newspapers and nightly television news segments continue to share stories about United States Black colleges and universities that struggle to survive or have been forced to close, despite their remarkable legacy. With a downward spiral-taking place for several of these institutions, there is inarguably a need for a…

This co-authored qualitative case study explores the challenge of teachers connecting with their students at the middle school level, especially when White teachers serve predominantly African-American students in large urban metropolitan areas like St. Louis, Missouri. While research has established the need for teachers to better understand the…