Challenge: The Building of a Clean Prosperous Black Community Through Our Educational System as Opposed to the Conspiracy (cover title)

Baruti, Zaki (Lavoy Reed)

Published by Progressive Books, St. Louis, 1980

About this Item

The first of two pamphlets published by the author on the need to adopt higher standards within black schools as the basis for creating clean and prosperious black communities. The work begins with a poem by Nyeusi Jakubu followed by a description of the "conspiracy of silence" occurring in black schools (the silence being the lack of standards for black students). He then compares a white community in Belleville and a black one in East St. Louis and describes their differences in cleanliness and prosperity. The pamphlet concludes with a list of questions that educational institutions need to ask followed by a lengthier list of "common sense approaches" toward resolving the deficiencies of black schools. Baruti was an educator in St. Louis who was inspired by Haki Madhubuti's book, Enemies, The Clash of Races, which he quotes from in the pamphlet. The Challenge, part 2: Can We Do It? was published the following here. Stapled, photo-illustrated wrappers (8 ½" x 5 ½"), [3], 16, [1] p., photos of Baruti with students to the front and rear wrappers. A near fine copy. One copy in WorldCat at the Missouri Historical Society.

Seller Inventory # 13523

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Challenge: The Building of a Clean Prosperous Black Community Through Our Educational System as Opposed to the Conspiracy (cover title)
• Publisher: Progressive Books, St. Louis
• Publication Date: 1980
• Binding: Soft cover
• Seller catalogs:
  • African-Americana
  • Education