A Pillar of Strength

Abstract

From an in-depth qualitative study in St. Louis, Missouri, from 1994 to 1997, this article highlights how one all-Black school creates and sustains strong communal bonds with African American families from a low-income community. Reminiscent of the “goodness” of many all-Black schools before Brown, this school—Fairmont Elementary—sustains strong communal bonds with families and is a stabilizing force for the community. The message gleaned from this study of Fairmont Elementary School is that the “goodness” of a school for African American families and students may also be defined by the strength and the nature of that school’s communal bonds with Black families and communities.