We Want to Do More Than Survive

Abolitionist Teaching and the Pursuit of Educational Freedom

By: Bettina Love

Narrated by: Misty Monroe

Winner of the 2020 Society of Professors of Education Outstanding Book Award

Drawing on personal stories, research, and historical events, an esteemed educator offers a vision of educational justice inspired by the rebellious spirit and methods of abolitionists.

Drawing on her life’s work of teaching and researching in urban schools, Bettina Love persuasively argues that educators must teach students about racial violence, oppression, and how to make sustainable change in their communities through radical civic initiatives and movements. She argues that the US educational system is maintained by and profits from the suffering of children of color. Instead of trying to repair a flawed system, educational reformers offer survival tactics in the forms of test-taking skills, acronyms, grit labs, and character education, which Love calls the educational survival complex.

To dismantle the educational survival complex and to achieve educational freedom—not merely reform—teachers, parents, and community leaders must approach education with the imagination, determination, boldness, and urgency of an abolitionist. Following in the tradition of activists like Ella Baker, Bayard Rustin, and Fannie Lou Hamer, We Want to Do More Than Survive introduces an alternative to traditional modes of educational reform and expands our ideas of civic engagement and intersectional justice.

Right on!

Love encourages readers to come out of survival mode and enjoy life, but makes it clear that this can only happen when we understand what life is to us...Black people in Americs.

Highly recommend this book

Thank you for this book! I learned new things about racism, and understood better the system of oppression many of our schools are still immersed on. I did not know about the educational survival complex but it makes a lot of sense of what my observations have been when navigating the school system as an immigrant woman of color! Love love love this book!

Good Book But No Clear Takeaway

I think the author presented some interesting points that are not often discussed. For example, how Brown vs. Board of Education might have created an adverse effect of its intent. The ruling was supposed to make public schools equitable but now we have a situation where schools allow for integration but socioeconomic status determines the resources provided. That has negatively impacted schools in lower income communities. Ms. Love argues that before the 1954 ruling, schools were segregated but they were equal. This is one of many examples she brought up that was thought provoking. That said, it was unclear what the author’s intent was from the book. It appeared to be solely focused on how the black community and minorities have been disenfranchised by American institutions in the guise of “whiteness.” I was disappointed she didn’t offer any tangible solutions on the path forward and so status quo is maintained.

Insightful

A must read for EVERYONE who works with Black and Brown children. It doesn’t provide strategies, but insights and perspectives . I will read again.

Thank you…just thank you 🤎

Once again Dr. Love provides a solid blueprint and understanding for moving us forward. Her language is profound and gives me tangible examples to add to community healing. Thank you…just thank you!