We Want to Do More Than Survive: Abolitionist Teaching and the Pursuit of Educational Freedom

In "We Want to Do More Than Survive: Abolitionist Teaching and the Pursuit of Educational Freedom," award-winning educator Bettina Love delivers a compelling argument for a radical shift in the way we think about education reform. Published on February 4, 2020, and recipient of the 2020 Society of Professors of Education Outstanding Book Award, Love’s work challenges the status quo that profits from the oppression of children of color through what she terms the educational survival complex. Drawing from a rich blend of personal anecdotes, rigorous research, and historical examples, she advocates for a system that teaches racial violence and oppression while empowering students to enact change. Love invokes the spirit and tactics of famed abolitionists like Ella Baker and Fannie Lou Hamer, proposing a transformative approach to education that prioritizes true educational freedom and intersectional justice. This thought-provoking book is a crucial read for college students and educators dedicated to the principles of educational equity and racial justice, inspiring them to reimagine the role of education in achieving societal change.