Community Cultural Wealth and Socio-Educational Transformations in Lennox, California: A Critical Inquiry Into Desegregation Efforts

• In Event: Intersecting Struggles of Desegregation: Navajo Schooling, Black Teacher Activism, and Critical Inquiry

Abstract

This qualitative study examines socio-educational transformations in Lennox, California, a densely populated urban area adjacent to LAX, through the lens of the landmark 1981 Frye vs. Centinela Valley Union High School District desegregation case. It employs Community Cultural Wealth (Yosso, 2005) to analyze how the predominantly Latina/o community strategically utilized local cultural assets to navigate and respond to the complexities of desegregation policies. This research draws on diverse sources, including contemporary ethnographies (Gamboa, 2018), detailed court and community testimonies, yearbooks, and archival documents, utilizing interdisciplinary methodologies for recovering marginalized narratives (García & Yosso, 2020). It underscores the community's resilience and adaptive strategies, deepening our understanding of educational equity, highlighting persistent challenges, and elucidating the enduring impacts of desegregation initiatives.

Author

• Edwin Leonidas Rivera Castellanos, University of California - Riverside