Brian Fuller, Associate Provost for Strategy, Operations, and Partnerships, Publishes “Being Black in America’s Schools”
During the summer of 2020, America was in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as a racial reckoning after the killings of numerous Black people, including George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and more.
A number of pressing social issues were coming to a head, which in turn inspired Brian Rashad Fuller, the Associate Provost for Strategy, Operations, and Partnerships at The New School, to write a book about structural racism in the country’s education system, “Being Black in America’s Schools.” Fuller believes that the country’s education apparatus often gets a moral pardon it does not deserve, and with his book, aims to spark a necessary conversation about the ways in which education perpetuates a racial and social caste system.
“As a nation we began to interrogate one of our great American institutions, our criminal justice system, for its inherent racism,” explains Fuller. “As an educator, I knew that there was another American institution that also needed this same critical lens, our American education system. The same racism that leads to the death of Black and Brown people in the streets at the hands of the police is also leading to the death of the dreams of Black and Brown youth in our classrooms at the hands of educators and our education system.”
Fuller’s book explores a range of topics and issues, and shares his own powerful story of navigating America’s education system as a Black man. He highlights the challenges Black students face in elite and predominantly white universities and spaces, dissects “Black exceptionalism” in the schooling experience, and offers a firsthand account of the emotional and psychological impact made by teachers, administrators, policies, practices, lessons, and student interactions.
“I hope readers gain a clear understanding and develop an understanding that the current iteration of our education system in many ways perpetuates a racial and social caste system in this country,” says Fuller. “Then from this understanding, begin to interrogate all the systems, structures, policies, and practices that contribute to the harm that our education system is inflicting. And begin to act as change agents within their locus of control to interrupt the cycle. Ultimately, my hope is that readers see themselves in this book, feel the emotion and urgency of the problem at hand, and through those realizations are inspired to act.”
Fuller spent four years working on his book, and while the majority of the manuscript was completed before he joined The New School, he feels the influence of his current role in his writing. As an educator and social justice advocate, he brings many of his values, ideals, and approaches with him to the Provost’s Office, where he works on strategic initiatives for the university including increasing student veteran enrollment, expanding access to career development opportunities, improving student retention, and spearheading operational projects.
“I think my role at The New School has definitely influenced my thinking as a writer, especially as I think about the ways the K-12 education system funnels into the higher education system in this country and how that system perpetuates the same inequities seen throughout the entire K-12 education lifecycle. Also, it made me think about how higher education can be a powerful tool for change and disruption.”
“Being Black in America’s Schools” offers present-day solutions, and liberating hope, for a centuries-long issue, as well as a galvanizing and radical step forward. Fuller has been featured in a wide variety of stories about his book, and will continue to promote it in the new year at conferences, on podcasts, and more.