Historicizing Transformational Resistance: Latinx Activism in Williams v. State of California

• In Event: Latina/o/x Educational Resistance and Relationships Across P-16

Abstract

On the 46th anniversary of Brown, students from across the state filed the Williams class action lawsuit. As part of its settlement, the state ushered in a series of mandates and oversight systems collectively known as the “Williams Settlement Legislation.” The plaintiffs’ actions led to historic changes, yet little is known about the Latinx students and parents whose activism made the lawsuit possible. Using a LatCrit framework, Latinx parent and student declarations from Los Angeles County were analyzed. Findings demonstrate the embodied transformational resistance of parents and students, adding to the rich Latinx legacy of collective activism in the fight education justice.

Authors

• Lluliana Alonso, California State University - Long Beach

• Diana A. Porras, California State University - Long Beach