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The Battle for the Black Mind
The Battle for the Black Mind delves into the complex history of Black education in the United States from the end of the Civil War in 1865 until the landmark Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court ruling in 1954. 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.
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.
256 pages, Hardcover
Published May 13, 2025
21 people are currently reading
428 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
May 13, 2025
This is really, really good. I wasn't sure what to expect with this. This is information dense and packed with illuminating research and perspectives. This really lays out how white interference impacts and controls how education is accessed in the Black community. This covers some information I was already familiar with but offers that information in a new way and connects it to history I was unaware of. More importantly this offers a way forward in a time when white supremacy is on the rise. This offers a historical framework for this pathology as well as proven techniques for resistance. This could not be more timely. This is upsetting and frustrating history to read about. However, it's also deeply important that this history be known, discussed, studied and addressed. I LOVE that the author addresses our current president and political landscape. She offers common sense advice and solutions. We're in for a quite a struggle in the coming years and I wouldn't be surprised if these struggles tear this nation apart again Civil War style. We simply can't allow white supremacy this power flex. This book offers tools for the coming battle, gear up!
This audiobook is narrated by Heni Zoutomou. Heni has a cultured and engaging voice. This subject matter can be rage inducing in fair-minded folks and I find audiobooks help. I prefer to consume upsetting history on audiobook. It can help the history feel more distant and less traumatic.
Thank you to authors Karida L. Brown, Hachette Audio, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own.
This audiobook is narrated by Heni Zoutomou. Heni has a cultured and engaging voice. This subject matter can be rage inducing in fair-minded folks and I find audiobooks help. I prefer to consume upsetting history on audiobook. It can help the history feel more distant and less traumatic.
Thank you to authors Karida L. Brown, Hachette Audio, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own.
January 2, 2026
A scholarly look at the battle and struggle that Black people waged in this country to access education. By now(meaning 2026)even casual readers of American history understand that even in bondage, Black folk knew literacy was a secret key that unlocks the door to freedom.
They not only felt this, but the fact that white folk were so dead set against Black folk attaining literacy they would craft laws of severe punishment, for the ATTEMPT of learning to read. This punishment was often extended to the one doing the teaching.
By simple deducing, if they are fighting so hard to keep us from “letters” there must be something awful powerful contained within. Knowing that history, serves as a perfect and powerful backdrop to this book. Ms. Brown traces the history of the nascent schooling places that grew into effective centers of learning, including HBCUs.
So what is the cusp of this battle in her text. It’s not necessarily the fight for education in and of itself, but the battle was for what type of education would Black students have access to.
With the founding of Hampton University and a bit later Tuskegee University, the Hampton/Tuskegee model of education was the dominant force in the land. And their focus was on industrial education almost exclusively! Learn to be of service. Why do you need foreign language classes? Liberal arts? Dance? Music? Nonsense!! How about domestic science? Grass cutting! Farming and gardening. These are what Black students need the most.
Of course, the liberal arts model pushed back against that and felt the need for intellectual pursuits were necessary to build a human being capable of functioning in the world as an equal amongst men. Why limit one’s aspirations? And it is this battle that Ms. Brown so eloquently and effectively details in this book. She will show you how the money followed the Hampton-Tuskegee model often to the detriment of liberal arts focused schools. This war went on for years, and there are still vestiges of the battle continuing to rage.
An important work, for all and any interested in the Black mind from enslaved to free, in the face of book bans, dismantling of DEI programs and the erasure of Department of Education. The battle for the Black mind continues, so get this book, it is your ammunition to join the fight and understand the challenges and combatants.
They not only felt this, but the fact that white folk were so dead set against Black folk attaining literacy they would craft laws of severe punishment, for the ATTEMPT of learning to read. This punishment was often extended to the one doing the teaching.
By simple deducing, if they are fighting so hard to keep us from “letters” there must be something awful powerful contained within. Knowing that history, serves as a perfect and powerful backdrop to this book. Ms. Brown traces the history of the nascent schooling places that grew into effective centers of learning, including HBCUs.
So what is the cusp of this battle in her text. It’s not necessarily the fight for education in and of itself, but the battle was for what type of education would Black students have access to.
With the founding of Hampton University and a bit later Tuskegee University, the Hampton/Tuskegee model of education was the dominant force in the land. And their focus was on industrial education almost exclusively! Learn to be of service. Why do you need foreign language classes? Liberal arts? Dance? Music? Nonsense!! How about domestic science? Grass cutting! Farming and gardening. These are what Black students need the most.
Of course, the liberal arts model pushed back against that and felt the need for intellectual pursuits were necessary to build a human being capable of functioning in the world as an equal amongst men. Why limit one’s aspirations? And it is this battle that Ms. Brown so eloquently and effectively details in this book. She will show you how the money followed the Hampton-Tuskegee model often to the detriment of liberal arts focused schools. This war went on for years, and there are still vestiges of the battle continuing to rage.
An important work, for all and any interested in the Black mind from enslaved to free, in the face of book bans, dismantling of DEI programs and the erasure of Department of Education. The battle for the Black mind continues, so get this book, it is your ammunition to join the fight and understand the challenges and combatants.
May 9, 2025
At its core, this book is a powerful examination of how white saviorism enables white people to swoop in and “fix” the very problems they’ve helped create—especially within the American education system. In The Battle for the Black Mind, Dr. Brown offers a sweeping and deeply researched account of how white stakeholders have historically fought over whether and how Black people should be educated, both in the U.S. and globally.
I read a lot of nonfiction on the Black experience, but this book taught me even more about the central role education plays in Black liberation movements around the world. Brown delivers countless moments of clarity, but it was the end of Chapter 6 that resonated with me most. She writes:
“So let these women inspire you. Pause. Reflect on all they did. What their legacies remind us is that real power lies in vision, strategy and unbreakable commitment to our communities.”
That line lingered. The communal traditions of Black Americans have always been—and will continue to be—a source of strength, not just for ourselves but for others, too. This book felt especially timely given today’s political climate and renewed attacks on truth-telling in education. Brown doesn’t just diagnose the problem—she gives us actionable steps to join the ongoing battle for the Black mind.
Thank you to NetGalley, Legacy Lit, and Dr. Brown for the advance audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
Pick this one up if you’re frustrated with the erasure of Black voices in American education and ready to do something about it.
I read a lot of nonfiction on the Black experience, but this book taught me even more about the central role education plays in Black liberation movements around the world. Brown delivers countless moments of clarity, but it was the end of Chapter 6 that resonated with me most. She writes:
“So let these women inspire you. Pause. Reflect on all they did. What their legacies remind us is that real power lies in vision, strategy and unbreakable commitment to our communities.”
That line lingered. The communal traditions of Black Americans have always been—and will continue to be—a source of strength, not just for ourselves but for others, too. This book felt especially timely given today’s political climate and renewed attacks on truth-telling in education. Brown doesn’t just diagnose the problem—she gives us actionable steps to join the ongoing battle for the Black mind.
Thank you to NetGalley, Legacy Lit, and Dr. Brown for the advance audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
Pick this one up if you’re frustrated with the erasure of Black voices in American education and ready to do something about it.
June 11, 2025
The Battle for the Black Mind tells the history of competing visions for black education from the Civil War to modern times. Before the Civil War, white slave owners made educating enslaved African Americans illegal. But many black people defied those laws by working to educate themselves and each other in secret. After the Civil War, many black people began schools in the South, but struggled to fund them. This is when wealthy white donors saw their opportunity to keep black people in low paid work by funding schools that excluded almost all education outside of agriculture. Other black schools that offered a full range of educational opportunities struggled to survive.
This book is fascinating, and it provides important context for understanding modern America. It is full of stories about incredible people that I had never heard of before. I think this is a book that everyone should read.
Thanks to Hachette Audio through NetGalley who allowed me to listen to the audio version of this book. The narrator, Heni Zoutomou, did an excellent job!
This book is fascinating, and it provides important context for understanding modern America. It is full of stories about incredible people that I had never heard of before. I think this is a book that everyone should read.
Thanks to Hachette Audio through NetGalley who allowed me to listen to the audio version of this book. The narrator, Heni Zoutomou, did an excellent job!
May 17, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Audio for this audio-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Battle for the Black Mind is a deeply moving and eye-opening exploration of the relentless struggle Black people have faced in the pursuit of education. This book doesn’t just tell history—it uncovers the layered resistance to systems designed to limit, control, and define the boundaries of Black intellect.
What stands out most is how the book highlights the resilient history of education as a battleground. From the earliest efforts to restrict Black learning to narrow, labor-centric roles—nannies, maids, field workers—the book traces how this dehumanizing view of education was weaponized to maintain a racial and class-based status quo. But Battle for the Black Mind also chronicles how countless individuals fought back, expanding access to education that included critical thinking, liberal arts, and leadership training once reserved only for white men.
One of the most compelling parts of the book is the story of Mary, whose underground efforts to educate formerly enslaved refugees at Fort Monroe defied both law and expectation. Tripling the size of her classes despite enormous risk—including fines and persecution—she created a ripple of change. Her legacy lives on at Emancipation Oak, where she is buried, and where President Lincoln delivered his Freedom Address. It’s a powerful symbol of how education has always been tied to liberation.
The book also doesn’t shy away from examining the role white power structures played in shaping and controlling early educational institutions for Black and Indigenous communities. The story of Samuel Chapman Armstrong, a missionary from an early wave of white settlers in Hawaii, is particularly revealing. His curriculum—based on Christianity, citizenship, and manual labor—excluded reading and writing, and aimed to reshape Hawaiian identity to fit a colonial mold. This wasn’t education; it was cultural erasure disguised as schooling. Armstrong’s legacy shows how white-dominated systems reformed communities into laborers, not leaders.
Battle for the Black Mind is not just a book about education—it’s about the battle to define humanity, intelligence, and identity on one’s own terms. It challenges us to reimagine what education is for, and who gets to decide.
Profound, well-researched, and essential. A must-read for anyone interested in truth, justice, and the power of the Black mind.
Battle for the Black Mind is a deeply moving and eye-opening exploration of the relentless struggle Black people have faced in the pursuit of education. This book doesn’t just tell history—it uncovers the layered resistance to systems designed to limit, control, and define the boundaries of Black intellect.
What stands out most is how the book highlights the resilient history of education as a battleground. From the earliest efforts to restrict Black learning to narrow, labor-centric roles—nannies, maids, field workers—the book traces how this dehumanizing view of education was weaponized to maintain a racial and class-based status quo. But Battle for the Black Mind also chronicles how countless individuals fought back, expanding access to education that included critical thinking, liberal arts, and leadership training once reserved only for white men.
One of the most compelling parts of the book is the story of Mary, whose underground efforts to educate formerly enslaved refugees at Fort Monroe defied both law and expectation. Tripling the size of her classes despite enormous risk—including fines and persecution—she created a ripple of change. Her legacy lives on at Emancipation Oak, where she is buried, and where President Lincoln delivered his Freedom Address. It’s a powerful symbol of how education has always been tied to liberation.
The book also doesn’t shy away from examining the role white power structures played in shaping and controlling early educational institutions for Black and Indigenous communities. The story of Samuel Chapman Armstrong, a missionary from an early wave of white settlers in Hawaii, is particularly revealing. His curriculum—based on Christianity, citizenship, and manual labor—excluded reading and writing, and aimed to reshape Hawaiian identity to fit a colonial mold. This wasn’t education; it was cultural erasure disguised as schooling. Armstrong’s legacy shows how white-dominated systems reformed communities into laborers, not leaders.
Battle for the Black Mind is not just a book about education—it’s about the battle to define humanity, intelligence, and identity on one’s own terms. It challenges us to reimagine what education is for, and who gets to decide.
Profound, well-researched, and essential. A must-read for anyone interested in truth, justice, and the power of the Black mind.
May 24, 2025
This book is bold, timely, and absolutely necessary. It’s not light reading—but it’s the kind that challenges you to sit with hard truths and connect the dots between history, media, power, and the intentional shaping of identity.
Karida L. Brown pushes you to see how and why these messages about Blackness have been constructed, consumed, and weaponized. The way she links the influence of media, education, public policy, and even philanthropy? You will LEARN and LEARN even more reading these pages.
As I read, I kept thinking: this isn’t just a book, it’s a lens. It's one that I consider a must read, along with books like Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents, Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America, and others.
It will help those who want to learn reframe the systems we've all been taught to not examine deeply. If you’re someone who cares about representation, equity, and how culture is shaped and sold, you'll want to pick this up (and be ready to annotate!) I listened via audiobook, but want a physical copy as well now.
It’s dense in places and doesn’t hold back on data or critique, which can feel overwhelming if you’re expecting more narrative/story flow.
Especially in light of everything our current administration is trying to do to take power and consideration back from black Americans, I hope that this book lands in the hands of as many people as possible.
I received an advance review copy of this book and am sharing my honest thoughts because this one deserves to be talked about.
Karida L. Brown pushes you to see how and why these messages about Blackness have been constructed, consumed, and weaponized. The way she links the influence of media, education, public policy, and even philanthropy? You will LEARN and LEARN even more reading these pages.
As I read, I kept thinking: this isn’t just a book, it’s a lens. It's one that I consider a must read, along with books like Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents, Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America, and others.
It will help those who want to learn reframe the systems we've all been taught to not examine deeply. If you’re someone who cares about representation, equity, and how culture is shaped and sold, you'll want to pick this up (and be ready to annotate!) I listened via audiobook, but want a physical copy as well now.
It’s dense in places and doesn’t hold back on data or critique, which can feel overwhelming if you’re expecting more narrative/story flow.
Especially in light of everything our current administration is trying to do to take power and consideration back from black Americans, I hope that this book lands in the hands of as many people as possible.
I received an advance review copy of this book and am sharing my honest thoughts because this one deserves to be talked about.
May 11, 2025
Thank you Netgally for the arc!!
The Battle of the Black Mind was powerful, thought-provoking, and deeply moving. This book made me reflect not only on the challenges we still face but also on the strength and resilience passed down through generations. It reminded me why I constantly encourage my children to take their education seriously because there was a time when our ancestors fought, struggled, and even died for opportunities we now have. Education is a privilege they could only dream of, and The Battle of the Black Mind captures the weight of that legacy beautifully. This is a must-read for anyone who wants a deeper understanding of the ongoing fight for empowerment, knowledge, and freedom.
The Battle of the Black Mind was powerful, thought-provoking, and deeply moving. This book made me reflect not only on the challenges we still face but also on the strength and resilience passed down through generations. It reminded me why I constantly encourage my children to take their education seriously because there was a time when our ancestors fought, struggled, and even died for opportunities we now have. Education is a privilege they could only dream of, and The Battle of the Black Mind captures the weight of that legacy beautifully. This is a must-read for anyone who wants a deeper understanding of the ongoing fight for empowerment, knowledge, and freedom.
August 24, 2025
4.5
I appreciated this book for discussing known figures in Black education, but gave a deeper understanding of these people. At the same time, the author shone a spotlight on figures that have been forgotten by history.
It gave a lot of important context to the history of how education was different for Black Americans after slavery and those reprocussions are felt in education still today.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I appreciated this book for discussing known figures in Black education, but gave a deeper understanding of these people. At the same time, the author shone a spotlight on figures that have been forgotten by history.
It gave a lot of important context to the history of how education was different for Black Americans after slavery and those reprocussions are felt in education still today.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
May 1, 2025
Thank you NetGalley for giving me the advance audiobook version of this book. I enjoyed the narrator and the information provided in the book. This book was very informative especially with the detail history on education. I highly recommend people to read this book. Great read
October 20, 2025
This is a riveting, anger-inducing, but much needed read.
I was expecting a modern focus on the broken American system, but this is a history that stretches back into the past of slavery and imperialism to explain the trials, tribulations, and hope for "the Black mind." There's a concerted focus on certain well-known figures like Booker T. Washington but the author does try to draw in untold narratives and histories and especially highlight the massive power of unknown legions of Black women who taught basic literacy and more to children over generations.
An important fact: race is always being defined in a way to control who Black people are and what roles in society Black people "should" have against default whiteness. Yes, education is one arm of the creation of race, and not just in the way you might think. Access, of course, but also the nature of the education. W.E.B. Du Bois and Booker T. Washington famously clashed on this. Du Bois was a radical who knew that capitulating would only be participation in race-making. Booker T. seemed to be less hopeful and more fearful, arguing that people should take what they could get. Reality may be more nuanced than both positions but I can't help but think that an approach more aligned with Du Bois is necessary given the long and seemingly endless arm of white supremacy and racial segregation, even today.
You might be wondering at my use of present tense. As the author notes in a sobering footnote, we now have the Trump 2.0 regime to contend with and all that implies for the education of Black people (and frankly everyone aside from a select rich, white few). The author makes several suggestions on what to do. In particular, they urge people to rethink accepting money from just anyone. Funders have agendas and priorities and you may get trapped. Everyone, let's keep this in mind even while the US government revokes funding. You don't want to end up in the same situation out of desperation.
The narration by the author was amazing.
Thank you to NetGalley, Hachette Audio | Legacy Lit, and the author for the advance copy of the audiobook.
I was expecting a modern focus on the broken American system, but this is a history that stretches back into the past of slavery and imperialism to explain the trials, tribulations, and hope for "the Black mind." There's a concerted focus on certain well-known figures like Booker T. Washington but the author does try to draw in untold narratives and histories and especially highlight the massive power of unknown legions of Black women who taught basic literacy and more to children over generations.
An important fact: race is always being defined in a way to control who Black people are and what roles in society Black people "should" have against default whiteness. Yes, education is one arm of the creation of race, and not just in the way you might think. Access, of course, but also the nature of the education. W.E.B. Du Bois and Booker T. Washington famously clashed on this. Du Bois was a radical who knew that capitulating would only be participation in race-making. Booker T. seemed to be less hopeful and more fearful, arguing that people should take what they could get. Reality may be more nuanced than both positions but I can't help but think that an approach more aligned with Du Bois is necessary given the long and seemingly endless arm of white supremacy and racial segregation, even today.
You might be wondering at my use of present tense. As the author notes in a sobering footnote, we now have the Trump 2.0 regime to contend with and all that implies for the education of Black people (and frankly everyone aside from a select rich, white few). The author makes several suggestions on what to do. In particular, they urge people to rethink accepting money from just anyone. Funders have agendas and priorities and you may get trapped. Everyone, let's keep this in mind even while the US government revokes funding. You don't want to end up in the same situation out of desperation.
The narration by the author was amazing.
Thank you to NetGalley, Hachette Audio | Legacy Lit, and the author for the advance copy of the audiobook.
July 26, 2025
“Jones knew that controlling black minds was the key to controlling black bodies. What could no longer be done with whips and chains would now have to be done through education.”
A history of education. If you love learning about black history, this is the book for you. This books dives into a topic that hits close to home given our current political climate. There’s detailed information about the people that fought for black education, the start of HBCUs, segregated education systems, the struggles black educators faced, and even the major disagreements between some of the most influential black leaders about the “correct” way for black people to gain educational rights. I’m only scratching the surface. The writing and presentation of the information was very accessible.
A history of education. If you love learning about black history, this is the book for you. This books dives into a topic that hits close to home given our current political climate. There’s detailed information about the people that fought for black education, the start of HBCUs, segregated education systems, the struggles black educators faced, and even the major disagreements between some of the most influential black leaders about the “correct” way for black people to gain educational rights. I’m only scratching the surface. The writing and presentation of the information was very accessible.
May 13, 2025
The Battle For The Black Mind is a non-fiction book that I could read an ARC version of, thanks to NetGalley | Hachette Audio | Legacy Lit, and the author, in exchange for an honest review.
The Battle For The Black Mind is a powerful and moving book about how education for Black people has developed for good and for bad in the United States, and all the historical figures that contribute to it. And not just the men like W.E.B. Du Bois and Booker T. Washington, but the women who helped build up education & community, like Dr Charlotte Hawkins Brown, who are too easily forgotten by the public. The authors’ ability to not just provide a detailed portrayal of the facts but a deeply personal one with impactful statements, that can leave you thinking like:
“So let these women inspire you. Pause. Reflect on all they did. What their legacies remind us is that real power lies in vision, strategy, and unbreakable commitment to our communities.”
It is deeply researched and provides a critical investigation and review of how, since slavery, there has been a fight for the Black mind and how people, especially white people, have used “social justice” to control black people and make themselves feel better. And how they had to fight and keep fighting for education & freedom. Furthermore, she’s able to draw modern parallels, which is important as the book illustrates brilliantly how the systems they used in the past to try and control black people are still the same.
Additionally, the narrator (Heni Zoutomou) is brilliant at clearly conveying this important information. As someone who struggles with audio processing, cause I'm neurodivergent, it was great that I was able to fully understand her.
I 100% recommend this book to all as it’s very important, especially with what is happening, and this history shouldn’t be forgotten and hidden. A brilliant tool to use in education and the start of important conversations.
The Battle For The Black Mind is a powerful and moving book about how education for Black people has developed for good and for bad in the United States, and all the historical figures that contribute to it. And not just the men like W.E.B. Du Bois and Booker T. Washington, but the women who helped build up education & community, like Dr Charlotte Hawkins Brown, who are too easily forgotten by the public. The authors’ ability to not just provide a detailed portrayal of the facts but a deeply personal one with impactful statements, that can leave you thinking like:
“So let these women inspire you. Pause. Reflect on all they did. What their legacies remind us is that real power lies in vision, strategy, and unbreakable commitment to our communities.”
It is deeply researched and provides a critical investigation and review of how, since slavery, there has been a fight for the Black mind and how people, especially white people, have used “social justice” to control black people and make themselves feel better. And how they had to fight and keep fighting for education & freedom. Furthermore, she’s able to draw modern parallels, which is important as the book illustrates brilliantly how the systems they used in the past to try and control black people are still the same.
Additionally, the narrator (Heni Zoutomou) is brilliant at clearly conveying this important information. As someone who struggles with audio processing, cause I'm neurodivergent, it was great that I was able to fully understand her.
I 100% recommend this book to all as it’s very important, especially with what is happening, and this history shouldn’t be forgotten and hidden. A brilliant tool to use in education and the start of important conversations.
June 7, 2025
Saw this available at the library and was curious. I know little about education as a field, less about Black education, etc. but do know that it is very important, especially now as colleges and university are even under greater scrutiny. This history traces Black education as freed slaves try to find ways to educate themselves. This is shaped throughout time by philanthropic organizations, religious institutions, and Black educators and historians and even extends to how this has an impact on education globally in places like Africa.
Despite emancipation and the end of slavery, this means that Black people needed a means to educate themselves for (theoretically) the same access and opportunities of white people. But of course, this did not mean automatic access to the same schools or education but rather an ongoing fight for that access as well as conversations about what education for Black people should look like, how to access such resources, etc.
This is an important book because this structural discrepancy very clearly remains. For example, Black and Latino student loan borrowers tend to have more debt/difficulty paying off their loans. That is not necessarily part of this book, but it does go to show there are still barriers to education when there shouldn't be.
It was pretty dull, though. Maybe because I did not know what to expect or because I am not an expert, etc. but overall I thought this was a good resource of information, but a tough read in the sense that there was a ton of information but I felt like I either needed to know a lot more about the subject or this was more for a specific audience. The author is a professor, though, which might account for it, as I tend to find books written by academics a tough slog.
Lots of good information, but perhaps not for a general reader. If you're interested in conversations about Black education, though, this definitely seems like a good read.
Library borrow and that was best for me.
Despite emancipation and the end of slavery, this means that Black people needed a means to educate themselves for (theoretically) the same access and opportunities of white people. But of course, this did not mean automatic access to the same schools or education but rather an ongoing fight for that access as well as conversations about what education for Black people should look like, how to access such resources, etc.
This is an important book because this structural discrepancy very clearly remains. For example, Black and Latino student loan borrowers tend to have more debt/difficulty paying off their loans. That is not necessarily part of this book, but it does go to show there are still barriers to education when there shouldn't be.
It was pretty dull, though. Maybe because I did not know what to expect or because I am not an expert, etc. but overall I thought this was a good resource of information, but a tough read in the sense that there was a ton of information but I felt like I either needed to know a lot more about the subject or this was more for a specific audience. The author is a professor, though, which might account for it, as I tend to find books written by academics a tough slog.
Lots of good information, but perhaps not for a general reader. If you're interested in conversations about Black education, though, this definitely seems like a good read.
Library borrow and that was best for me.
May 27, 2025
This book connects the dots between historical events, important leaders in history (both positive and negative), and the current state of the education system. This book is deeply researched and pulls the relevant history together in an accessible way.
The writing both addresses the systematic challenges and the historical context of racism in education today.
Being from Florida I especially enjoyed the information about Dr. Bethune who was an influential educator in Daytona Florida. Her work should be highlighted in any class on Florida History.
Favorite Quotes: “So let these women inspire you. Pause. Reflect on all they did. What their legacies remind us is that real power lies in vision, strategy and unbreakable commitment to our communities.”
“What could no longer be done with whips and chains would now need to be done through education”
Genre: Nonfiction
Age: Adult
Themes: Racism, Education, History, Segregation
Read For: Netgalley
Obtained From: Thank you to Hachette Audio and Netgalley for the Advanced Listening Copy of this Audiobook
Hashtags: #TheBattlefortheBlackMind #NetGalley # Education #educationsystem
The writing both addresses the systematic challenges and the historical context of racism in education today.
Being from Florida I especially enjoyed the information about Dr. Bethune who was an influential educator in Daytona Florida. Her work should be highlighted in any class on Florida History.
Favorite Quotes: “So let these women inspire you. Pause. Reflect on all they did. What their legacies remind us is that real power lies in vision, strategy and unbreakable commitment to our communities.”
“What could no longer be done with whips and chains would now need to be done through education”
Genre: Nonfiction
Age: Adult
Themes: Racism, Education, History, Segregation
Read For: Netgalley
Obtained From: Thank you to Hachette Audio and Netgalley for the Advanced Listening Copy of this Audiobook
Hashtags: #TheBattlefortheBlackMind #NetGalley # Education #educationsystem
May 29, 2025
Reading The Battle for the Black Mind was both enlightening and deeply moving. Karida L. Brown brilliantly unpacks the history of Black education in America, revealing how it has been both a battleground and a source of empowerment for generations. As someone passionate about equity and history, I found her work incredibly relevant and timely.
Brown’s approach blends rigorous research with a strong narrative voice. She doesn't just recount facts—she brings them to life by highlighting the lives of educators, students, and activists who fought for access and dignity in education. I was particularly struck by the stories of early educators like Mary Smith Peake, and how institutions like Tuskegee and Hampton were shaped by conflicting philosophies of liberation and control.
This book challenged me to think critically about the structures that still influence educational access today as well as the homeschooling journey on. Brown invites us to understand the past not to linger in it, but to recognize how it shapes our present and future.
The Battle for the Black Mind is a powerful, essential read. I highly recommend it for educators &students
Thanks NetGalley for this ARC
Brown’s approach blends rigorous research with a strong narrative voice. She doesn't just recount facts—she brings them to life by highlighting the lives of educators, students, and activists who fought for access and dignity in education. I was particularly struck by the stories of early educators like Mary Smith Peake, and how institutions like Tuskegee and Hampton were shaped by conflicting philosophies of liberation and control.
This book challenged me to think critically about the structures that still influence educational access today as well as the homeschooling journey on. Brown invites us to understand the past not to linger in it, but to recognize how it shapes our present and future.
The Battle for the Black Mind is a powerful, essential read. I highly recommend it for educators &students
Thanks NetGalley for this ARC
May 26, 2025
If you’re interested in education, history, or racial justice, The Battle for the Black Mind is right up your alley! It’s a well-researched and thought-provoking book that takes you on a journey through the history of Black education in America. It highlights the systemic challenges Black communities faced and the resilience and determination of the individuals who wouldn’t be deterred in their pursuit of knowledge and empowerment. I loved the balance between historical analysis and personal narrative, making the book digestible and moving.
One of the most compelling aspects of the book is the tribute to the matriarchs of Black education, figures like Ida B. Wells and Lucy Craft Laney, who laid the groundwork for future generations. I also appreciated the chapters about the ideological battle between W.E.B. Du Bois and Booker T. Washington and how the industrial education model was used to limit Black intellectual growth.
One of the most compelling aspects of the book is the tribute to the matriarchs of Black education, figures like Ida B. Wells and Lucy Craft Laney, who laid the groundwork for future generations. I also appreciated the chapters about the ideological battle between W.E.B. Du Bois and Booker T. Washington and how the industrial education model was used to limit Black intellectual growth.
July 25, 2025
Karida L. Brown’s work reminds us that we will never get it all done, and we will never get it all right when it comes to education and race. The Battle for the Black Mind provides a glimpse of the blueprint that the founders of Black Education created and implemented during Reconstruction. They didn’t all agree with each other’s methods on how to educate young black children, but they cared enough to position themselves, use their allies to their advantage and execute. They did this with the common goal of moving the race forward. This book added to what I already knew about some prominent Black educators and introduced me to other historical visionaries. With this book, Karida L. Brown has made an important contribution at this pivotal time in history by taking us back to these important debates. Good reading leads to more reading and that’s what The Battle for the Black Mind is pushing me to do.
May 9, 2025
Hey, hey my favorites 😁 💚
Rating: 5/5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley for the gifted copy.
Karida L. Brown’s The Battle for the Black Mind is a powerful and necessary exploration of the struggle for Black intellectual liberation. With insightful analysis and personal depth, Brown unpacks the historical and present-day forces that have shaped the Black experience, particularly in education, media, and public discourse.
Her writing is both accessible and profound, making complex ideas feel urgent and understandable. This book doesn’t just inform—it challenges, empowers, and calls readers to action.
I highly recommend this to anyone interested in cultural studies, racial justice, and the power of knowledge as a tool for freedom.
Rating: 5/5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley for the gifted copy.
Karida L. Brown’s The Battle for the Black Mind is a powerful and necessary exploration of the struggle for Black intellectual liberation. With insightful analysis and personal depth, Brown unpacks the historical and present-day forces that have shaped the Black experience, particularly in education, media, and public discourse.
Her writing is both accessible and profound, making complex ideas feel urgent and understandable. This book doesn’t just inform—it challenges, empowers, and calls readers to action.
I highly recommend this to anyone interested in cultural studies, racial justice, and the power of knowledge as a tool for freedom.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 24, 2025
This book was a lengthy, seemingly exhaustive account of the black education struggle of the past 100+ years.
It begins with late-stage slavery and follows said struggle through emancipation, Jim Crow, desegregation, the Civil Rights movement, and into our current Trump-era political landscape. Personally, I think it's a must-read for anyone, particularly those of the, "We are all equal now, so why do they keep complaining?" mindset.
The author does a phenomenal job of showcasing the struggles black people have faced to receive the same educational opportunities as their white counterparts and how, even today, protections for those equal opportunities are being stripped away to "keep POC in their place." (Not a direct quote, just an observation set off with quotation marks because it's a disgusting mindset of which I would never approve.)
Exploring the connection between education and freedom, this book is very eye-opening. It showcases how even the "good" things done for black education were not always done in good faith, nor were they even always actually good.
I saw another review that said this book "uncovers how this fight over Black minds was never just about schooling, but about who gets to participate fully in democracy." And honestly, I feel like that sums it far better than I ever could. (Thanks, Goodreads user Mim_Who_.)
Seriously. Read the book. It's educational, well-researched, and well-written. The loss of one star was primarily due to the narration aspects, which I felt could have been better. I liked the narrator, but the audio itself could have been cleaner and clearer. Additionally, I felt the author could be somewhat wordy at times, which slowed the pace down. Still, an exceptional read.
It begins with late-stage slavery and follows said struggle through emancipation, Jim Crow, desegregation, the Civil Rights movement, and into our current Trump-era political landscape. Personally, I think it's a must-read for anyone, particularly those of the, "We are all equal now, so why do they keep complaining?" mindset.
The author does a phenomenal job of showcasing the struggles black people have faced to receive the same educational opportunities as their white counterparts and how, even today, protections for those equal opportunities are being stripped away to "keep POC in their place." (Not a direct quote, just an observation set off with quotation marks because it's a disgusting mindset of which I would never approve.)
Exploring the connection between education and freedom, this book is very eye-opening. It showcases how even the "good" things done for black education were not always done in good faith, nor were they even always actually good.
I saw another review that said this book "uncovers how this fight over Black minds was never just about schooling, but about who gets to participate fully in democracy." And honestly, I feel like that sums it far better than I ever could. (Thanks, Goodreads user Mim_Who_.)
Seriously. Read the book. It's educational, well-researched, and well-written. The loss of one star was primarily due to the narration aspects, which I felt could have been better. I liked the narrator, but the audio itself could have been cleaner and clearer. Additionally, I felt the author could be somewhat wordy at times, which slowed the pace down. Still, an exceptional read.
May 6, 2025
Dr. Brown does a fantastic job of making the history of Black education in the U.S. accessible to a wide variety of readers and showing how timely this history is for today's fight against book banning, removal of Black history from curriculums, and defunding of public schools. She tells a clear and powerful story without sacrificing nuance and ideological differences. A fascinating book I can't wait to handsell at my indie bookstore!
July 14, 2025
This was powerful, dense, and deeply personal. Brown examines how Black minds have been shaped, challenged, and reclaimed. Heni’s narration adds a grounded warmth that makes it hit even harder. Felt like church, therapy, and a TED Talk in one.
“The most radical thing you can do is think for yourself.”
May 20, 2025
I would hurry up and get this book before it gets banned. This book will give an insight into how the wealthy want to control people through education. As a black or brown person, This book should help you navigate the future of what education will be and what you can do to stay in control.
August 12, 2025
The most engaging piece of non fiction Ive ever read! I couldnt put it down. Highly illuminating, invaluable literature.
July 10, 2025
Thank you to Legacy Lit and Grand Central Publishing for the free book and to Hachette Audio for the complimentary audiobook. These opinions are my own.
This is precisely my preferred genre of nonfiction. It features history that I needed to learn and was incredibly well researched.
I had previously read a bit about Booker T. Washington and W. E. B. DuBois and their debates over education (shout out to reading Harlem Rhapsody if you prefer starting to learn from historical fiction). This provided a deeper framework for me to understand the competing forces behind Black education and the origins of HBCUs. I want to say I am surprised. But I am not. The white supremacist machinations to prevent real education are horrifying, but not surprising.
I also appreciated the international context of what was happening outside the US. And of course, the comparison to Kendrick Lamar and current rap battles made the history even more currently relatable. It concluded with a phenomenal epilogue. Heni Zoumotou narrated well.
4.5 stars rounded up
This is precisely my preferred genre of nonfiction. It features history that I needed to learn and was incredibly well researched.
I had previously read a bit about Booker T. Washington and W. E. B. DuBois and their debates over education (shout out to reading Harlem Rhapsody if you prefer starting to learn from historical fiction). This provided a deeper framework for me to understand the competing forces behind Black education and the origins of HBCUs. I want to say I am surprised. But I am not. The white supremacist machinations to prevent real education are horrifying, but not surprising.
I also appreciated the international context of what was happening outside the US. And of course, the comparison to Kendrick Lamar and current rap battles made the history even more currently relatable. It concluded with a phenomenal epilogue. Heni Zoumotou narrated well.
4.5 stars rounded up
December 22, 2025
The Battle for the Black Mind was one of my best nonfiction books of 2025. The book is packed with research, references, academic rigor, and depth. The book chronicles the history of education for black people starting with the time period after the civil war. The book outlines the prominent historical events along with the forerunners of education. A key example is the battle between pushing black people to agricultural pursuits and dissuading black people from pursuing other areas of interest. This methodology was to encourage the continuation of a workforce and minimize ownership and independence.
The book also covered educational challenges- in and out of the diaspora and meted out the ethical dilemmas of that time. During that time, the ultimate fight and battle for education was understood to be boiled down to the fact that if the black body cannot be enslaved- owning the mind and education of a people is the next best thing.
The Battle for the Black Mind is a great read and while the systemic racism and sheer greed of what has transpired will inevitably make you experience the gamut of emotions, this is a historical story that needs to be revisited until we’ve overcome.
The book outlines the fact that education was being used as an extension of the next phase of intentional subjugation in yet another form of economic engineering. This is an important highlight- especially today. The book discusses education and the Black community, but make no mistake- this book should be considered a key aspect of the class conversation as well.
Be sure to include this book is on your bookshelf. Highly recommended.
The book also covered educational challenges- in and out of the diaspora and meted out the ethical dilemmas of that time. During that time, the ultimate fight and battle for education was understood to be boiled down to the fact that if the black body cannot be enslaved- owning the mind and education of a people is the next best thing.
The Battle for the Black Mind is a great read and while the systemic racism and sheer greed of what has transpired will inevitably make you experience the gamut of emotions, this is a historical story that needs to be revisited until we’ve overcome.
The book outlines the fact that education was being used as an extension of the next phase of intentional subjugation in yet another form of economic engineering. This is an important highlight- especially today. The book discusses education and the Black community, but make no mistake- this book should be considered a key aspect of the class conversation as well.
Be sure to include this book is on your bookshelf. Highly recommended.
July 2, 2025
The Battle for the Black Mind is a searing, amazing exploration of the centuries-long struggle over Black education in the US, from emancipation to the dawn of desegregation. The author reveals how education became a battleground for power, identity, and liberation—where freed Black communities saw learning as a path to freedom, while white elites sought to shape that access for their own ends. With global scope and historical depth, Brown uncovers how this fight over Black minds was never just about schooling, but about who gets to participate fully in democracy. Her work no only explores past injustices, it offers clarity, tools, and vision for resisting systemic oppression in the present. Urgent, necessary, and unapologetically bold, this book is essential listening for anyone committed to truth and justice in education.
The audio narrator did an amazing job at bring this work to life!
Thank you to NetGalley, Legacy Lit, and Hachette Audio for the advance audiobook.
The audio narrator did an amazing job at bring this work to life!
Thank you to NetGalley, Legacy Lit, and Hachette Audio for the advance audiobook.
June 30, 2025
The Battle for the Black Mind by Karida L. Brown (book cover is in image), provides an account of the history of black education from slavery to the current day. Written as a historical analysis, with the of academic research, it is still written for a non-academic like me to easily understand, thanks to the amazing narration by Heni Zoutomou. This is a must read for those interested in how black education has evolved, in the US, and as well as a critical piece of African American history.
Thank you, Grand Central Publishing and Hachette Audio, for the opportunity to read this ARC ad listen to this ALC. All opinions are my own.
Rating: 5 Stars
Audio Release Date: May 13 2025
Tags:
#HachetteAudio
#TheBattlefortheBlackMind
#KaridaLBrown
#HeniZoutomou
#Nonfiction
#Education
#Politics
#CurrentAffairs
#History
#YarisBookNook
#netgalley
Thank you, Grand Central Publishing and Hachette Audio, for the opportunity to read this ARC ad listen to this ALC. All opinions are my own.
Rating: 5 Stars
Audio Release Date: May 13 2025
Tags:
#HachetteAudio
#TheBattlefortheBlackMind
#KaridaLBrown
#HeniZoutomou
#Nonfiction
#Education
#Politics
#CurrentAffairs
#History
#YarisBookNook
#netgalley
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