As the apple on the cover suggests, this country is ROTTEN TO THE CORE!! The accumulation of facts and scholarship is nauseating, even if the fundamental ideas are familiar. Despite Eve L. Ewing's intention to do otherwise, I do wish the conclusion of *Original Sins: Racism and the Miseducation of Black and Native American Children* had been more specific and prescriptive. I respect Ewing so much that I’m like, no but really what do we do next? Please tell me!! If you're looking for insightful b...

I seriously need to read more non-fiction!!! Like, yesterday. Seriously though, after reading Eve L. Ewing's *Original Sins: Racism and the Miseducation of Black and Native American Children*, I'm kicking myself for not prioritizing books like this. This is the kind of non-fiction that grabs you and shakes you awake. If you're looking for powerful and insightful book reviews that will make you think, put *Original Sins: Racism and the Miseducation of Black and Native American Children* at the to...

When I was in high school, I went to a predominantly white school out in the country. I'd say it was 70% white, 25% Hispanic, and 5% Black. One day, before a major state exam, the principal called us into the lunchroom (we didn't even have an auditorium) and said, "We know all the white kids will do well, this isn't for y'all. So just make us proud. Now to the Mexicans, if you want soccer next year you better pass." I will never forget the anger I felt toward the educators that day, and it's s...

I honestly can't recall the exact name of the class, but during my freshman year of college, there was this "important things to think about" kind of course. We covered technology, ethics, education – basically, an "Education 101" course for every student. Reading *Original Sins: Racism and the Miseducation of Black and Native American Children* by Eve L. Ewing feels like encountering one of the most essential books for that very type of course. This book feels foundational; it's crucial for peo...

You'll probably need to take your time with Eve L. Ewing's *Original Sins: Racism and the Miseducation of Black and Native American Children* and digest it in small bites, or power through it as I did, because it's an emotionally challenging read. Regardless of your race, your experience with racism, or how anti-racist you consider yourself, this book will challenge you because the racism and white supremacy are so explicit. Even if you've experienced what's discussed firsthand or have read coun...

I'm reposting this review of a newly released book because DEI initiatives are being condemned by the current administration, and Civil Rights offices are being shut down. There's a gutting of the Department of Education, which is seen as too "woke" and negative about white supremacy. Are all aspects of government seen as "racist" simply because they focus on race or equity? Is the idea that a "free market" approach to morality will magically solve everything? Or is it fears stoked by "replaceme...

I was really excited for this book after enjoying *Ghosts in the Schoolyard* and following Eve L. Ewing's work. In *Original Sins: Racism and the Miseducation of Black and Native American Children*, Ewing tackles the weighty question of how schools came to be and how the US has miseducated Black and Native children specifically. She pinpoints the "original sins" as the chattel slavery of Africans and the genocide of indigenous peoples on Turtle Island. She explains that schools for white student...

Eve L. Ewing's "Original Sins: Racism and the Miseducation of Black and Native American Children" is an exceptionally impressive piece of historical and cultural analysis. The book is meticulously organized, packing a substantial amount of information into just under 300 pages (with another 100 dedicated to notes and bibliography). While the density of historical detail is considerable, Ewing's skillful writing and structural choices ensure the reader remains engaged and grounded in the narrativ...

The idea that schools are complicit in perpetuating a harmful system clashes with the very foundation of what education in the United States is supposed to be. We're told that schools are meant to be places that foster fairness, where our life outcomes are directly linked to our individual efforts. However, the reality is that schools have been shaped by the same ideologies that drove European colonists to claim Indigenous lands and that fueled the horrors of the Middle Passage. These *Original ...

Exactly what I was hoping for. I highly recommend "Original Sins: Racism and the Miseducation of Black and Native American Children" for anyone who spends time with children in any capacity. But honestly, even if you don’t have kids in your life, I’d still recommend Eve L. Ewing's "Original Sins: Racism and the Miseducation of Black and Native American Children" for your own education and growth. A must-read for anyone interested in insightful book reviews about race and education.