The Role of Activism and Politics in Defending Public Education

• In Event: Latiné Voices in Print: Recent Books on Latiné Student Experiences and Educational Equity

Abstract

The panelist will share insights into a landmark case in education and civil rights history that chronicles the legal, political, and grassroots struggle to preserve ethnic studies. The authors will provide a nuanced analysis of how state-sponsored racism and political agendas have intersected to dismantle ethnic studies programs.
Using a multi-method approach that includes legal analysis, ethnographic observation, and archival research, the authors draw from a range of sources such as court documents, legislative records, political cartoons, media coverage, and firsthand accounts from students, educators, and community members.
The book contributes to the fields of education policy, ethnic studies, and legal studies, illustrating how community activism, legal strategy, and cultural resistance can converge to challenge systemic oppression. The panelist also offers a critical reminder that educational equity requires both grassroots mobilization and institutional accountability.

Author

• Nolan L. Cabrera, University of Arizona