No Struggle, No Progress: A Warrior's Life from Black Power to Education Reform

Regional and Other Titles

by Lisa Frazier Page, Lisa Frazier Page

This book tells the story of one mans life journey into the heart of the struggle to reform the nations schools. Fuller has always believed that it is important for poor and working class Black people to gain access to the levers of power dictating their lives. He believes that those of us who are educated and resourceful have a moral and historical responsibility to help them, and that is what he has always tried to do. Early in his life he found truth in the words of the great Frederick 'Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did, and it never will.'
~ 'So struggle we must' says Fuller. That understanding of the relationship between struggle and progress is what propelled him down dark alleys and dirt roads in some of North Carolinas poorest communities in the 1960s and pushed him into the bush, mountains, and war-torn villages of Africa nearly a decade later.
~ 'It is what pushes me still in the fight over one of the most contentious education issues of this parental choice. I believe deep in my heart that giving low-income and working class parents the power (and the money) to make choices about the schools their children attend will not only revolutionize education but provide the compass to a better life for the many poor, Black children stuck in failing systems. ... Education reform is one of the most crucial social justice issues of our time, and I will spend the rest of my days fighting for my people, most especially those without the power or the resources to fight for themselves.'

Genres: Education, Race

306 pages, Paperback

First published September 9, 2014

Reviews

[Lucy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I saw Dr. Fuller when he came to speak to City Year corps members in Milwaukee, WI during the 2016-17 school year. I was inspired by his hopes for black and poor students in the schools we served in as AmeriCorps members. Nikotris Perkins, a Fuller Fellow, worked as an Impact Manager for City Year at the time, so I believe that was why he came to speak with us. However, after hearing his adamant support for vouchers and charter schools and his deep connections with the Walton family, and conservative politicians, I realized I heartily disagreed with his stance. He has never taught in a K-12 classroom and yet became superintendent of Milwaukee Public Schools after pushing for the requirement of teaching experience be eliminated. He barely talks about how to better teach kids beyond getting big grants for new computers and calling it improved education. He attacks teachers unions as protecting bad teachers and their contracts as holding back bold progress. I am a proud union member and work in public schools and I was honestly shocked. If you want to get an idea of his stance and learn from it, I recommend this book. Otherwise, stay away. Change is possible for public schools. Just look at all the amazing wave of teacher strikes that have won improvements for their students and their staff. I believe Dr. Fuller to be well-intentioned, but history is proving his belief in vouchers as the road to success quite wrong as we have learned from many studies. Also, Betsy Devos anyone? I do think I learned about why folks believe in vouchers and charters, but it crystallized my own viewpoint.

[Odessa]

I am looking forward to Howard Fuller's visit to our City Neighbors Charter School Progressive Education Summit this January 2015. Our school provided all of the staff a copy of this book to read.

[Deborah Quazzo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Howard Fuller is a remarkable inspiration and leader. An African-American focused singularly on improving the lives of black children through access to the highest quality education. He is indifferent to the agendas of others and brings together disparate groups around a common mission. His also a fearless man who’s life has run the gamut from freedom fighting in Africa to superintendent of Milwaukee public schools to fierce advocate of vouchers and school choice. A great book.

[Alison Rini · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I haven’t read a book this quickly in a LONG time! Absolutely fascinating story of an education reformer and the many twists on his journey. Thank you for sharing your lessons and your vision - so much of it applies to my own situation and I truly appreciate the guidance. You have made an incredible difference, and as you said, more work remains. Your illuminating and compelling narrative will help the struggle to continue to progress.

[Memistoker · Rating 2 out of 5]

He was a communist, ended up working with Bush and being a Republican? I don’t know how else to tell you this book is awful.

[Evan Bolick · Rating 3 out of 5]

To begin with the positive, this guy has had an amazing life. No matter your political or personal leanings, you should absolutely aspire to leave the impact Howard Fuller has left in all his endeavors. In general, the journey was really exciting. He begins as a community organizer in the South in the midst of the Civil Rights struggle. He soon determines (correctly imo) that education is the true key to evening the racial and socio-economic divides. He begins an alternative college (Malcolm X Liberation University) and even spends time in Africa fighting with rebels. We then watch as he grows and is made supervisor of Milwuakee public schools and soon thereafter, a champion for school reform (and a wonderful mouthpiece for it). If you can't find that journey both exciting and inspirational, then you lack any genetic inclination for excitement.

The big issue is the book is a bit long and a bit repetitive. It is a bit self-aggrandizing as well, with Mr. Fuller rarely acknowledging failure or shortcoming (and to the extent he does, he doesn't go as in-depth about these failures as he does about his well-earned successes). Particularly, I would have appreciated more on his only lightly-touched upon narrative as a father who largely chose his career and passions over his family. A bit of delving into his personal life would have provided some good counterpoint and much-needed breathing room from his professional exploits. This is only a small critique though.

Overall, a good read about a passionate guy.

[Dolly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Howard Fuller is leading an extraordinary life of impact and courage. His book gives us a peak into what makes him tick, in his authentic voice. I am so glad he wrote this book and I am so glad I read it.