Edited by:

Deneka Green

Local 541’s Equity Representative

OISE’s R.W.B. Jackson Lecture – April 17, 2024

Professor R. Givens on Black Reconstructions

Local 541 and a few of its members attended a lecture on Black Reconstructions: Race, Educational History and the Problem of the Archive given by the Professor of Education and African and African American Studies at Harvard University.

Read more about the this eye-opening and inspiring lecture from some of our members, and check out photos from the event and a video of the lecture itself below!

Jarvis R. Givens on Black Reconstructions: Race, Educational History, and the Problem of the Archive

If you’re interested in more of Professor Given’s work, check out The Black Teacher Archive (BTA) 🔗 an open access collection of more than 50,000 digitized pages of Colored Teachers Association materials from nearly 70 institutions.

On April 17th, I had the privilege of attending the OISE Jackson Lecture featuring Professor Jarvis R. Givens, a distinguished educator and scholar at Harvard University. His presentation, titled “Black Reconstructions: Race, Educational History, and the Problem of the Archive,” was profoundly enlightening. Dr. Givens eloquently illuminated the enduring impact of persecution on black communities in both educational institutions and society at large. He also shed light on the resilience of communities like mine, who have strived to impart the true history of black experiences, despite historical suppression. Particularly captivating was Dr. Givens discussion of his remarkable journey in uncovering archival materials from former educators. I aspire to one day visit the library housing these invaluable archives and delve deeper into the rich collage of black history.

Melinda Ferguson (Local 541 member)

The downside to being experienced at your job is that everyday work tasks become increasingly mundane.  The CEIU Local 541 Team answered my secret request for further mental stimulation by sponsoring my attendance at the OISE Jackson Lecture by Professor Givens.  The discussion on fugitive pedagogy was so eye-opening and compelling that it has enhanced my perspective of the American civil rights movement.  I also had the pleasure of asking Dr. Givens a thought-provoking question to which he provided a hugely insightful response. It was a wholesome, memorable experience overall.

Shawn Neil (Local 541 member)