Boynton v. Virginia and the Anxieties of the Modern African-American Customer

In 1958, Bruce Boynton was arrested for ordering food in a Whites-Only diner and charged with criminal trespass. Sixty years later, African Americans continue to face arrest and threat of arrest in commercial establishments based on discriminatory trespass claims. When store owners or employees decide to exclude would-be patrons from their establishment for discriminatory reasons, both overt and implicit, they rely on the police to enforce this form of discrimination. This article considers the legacy of Boynton v. Virginia, particularly the resonance of Boynton’s unaddressed claim, that the state enforcement of discriminatory trespass allegations is an Equal Protection violation. African-American consumers continually experience the threat of police intervention or actual arrest as they shop in stores and sit in coffee shops. The Article argues that state enforcement of discriminatory trespass claims against African Americans results in unequal access to commercial establishments open to the public. Trespass allegations can result in lifelong concerns—legal and psychological consequences. The continued enforcement of discriminatory trespass claims cause significant harms, including demonstrative public health effects on African Americans. In recounting Boynton, the Article draws from its legacy forms of action to address discriminatory trespass enforcement

A Free Start: Community-Based Organizations as an Antidote to the Mass Incarceration of Women Pretrial

In 1973, the feminist newsmagazine Off Our Backs featured a segment on women in jail awaiting trial in Washington, D.C. Many of the women faced minor charges, such as soliciting prostitution, but remained in detention because they could not afford to pay even very low amounts of monetary bail. The magazine interviewed Myrna Raeder, then a fellow at Georgetown, and other attorneys involved in a class action suit against D.C. corrections, who argued that low-income women were unjustly subjected to the punitive effects of pretrial detention, in violation of their due process rights. Raeder reported to the newsmagazine, “as a practical matter, many bondsmen refuse to write bonds for small amounts which yield only a limited fee.” Forty years later, advocates are still pushing courts to consider alternatives to setting bail, which effectively leaves poor women in detention pretrial. During the last few years, a number of reports have been published to encourage the use of alternatives to pretrial incarceration, particularly to address the needs of the rising number of women in the system. This comment illustrates how collaborations with community-based programs can potentially reduce the mass incarceration of women in jails across the country. First, I consider the consequences of defaulting to pretrial detention in women’s jails. Second, I argue that community-based pretrial support for people who would otherwise be in detention is one of the most effective paths towards reducing mass incarceration. Finally, I examine how to close gaps in the provision of social services in order to facilitate effective long-term improvements in women’s lives. As local jurisdictions trend toward exploring pretrial services for women, we must consider how the lessons of local community-based alternatives can minimize detention for all

Usability Study on a Website Integrating Self Organized Learning Environments (SOLE) and Google Apps for Education (GAFE)

This usability study was designed to determine the functionality of a site dedicated to integrating the Google apps for education suite with the Self-organized learning approach designed by Sugata Mitra.This usability project was created to test a website designed for teachers to implement the pedagogical approach, Self-Organized Learning Environments (SOLE), developed by Sugata Mitra, and the technology suite, Google Apps for Education (GAFE). Mitra’s School in the Cloud website, which facilitates SOLE sessions, lacks the ability to share and save student presentations easily. Adding this functionality was the primary reason for developing the website for this project. Google Sites was used to develop the website, taking into account design features which aid in a simple and effective user experience (Krug, 2010). Educators from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and teachers from the University Laboratory School volunteered to test the website’s usability. Each participant was asked to go through a series of scenarios, resulting in revisions to further aid the usability of the website. After collecting the data, it was clear that certain features and wording needed to be changed to make the website more accessible, but the main features were easily understood once located, and users were able to complete the tasks they were presented. Through observations and interviews, the ability to run inquiry-based lessons and participate in a global community of students and teachers was evident. The conclusion reached through this usability study is to further develop the primary features tested, with the aim to integrate more seamless communication and sharing between users

\u3cem\u3eBoynton v. Virginia\u3c/em\u3e and the Anxieties of the Modern African-American Customer

In 1958, Bruce Boynton was arrested for ordering food in a Whites-Only diner and charged with criminal trespass. Sixty years later, African Americans continue to face arrest and threat of arrest in commercial establishments based on discriminatory trespass claims. When store owners or employees decide to exclude would-be patrons from their establishment for discriminatory reasons, both overt and implicit, they rely on the police to enforce this form of discrimination. This article considers the legacy of Boynton v. Virginia, particularly the resonance of Boynton’s unaddressed claim, that the state enforcement of discriminatory trespass allegations is an Equal Protection violation. African-American consumers continually experience the threat of police intervention or actual arrest as they shop in stores and sit in coffee shops. The Article argues that state enforcement of discriminatory trespass claims against African Americans results in unequal access to commercial establishments open to the public. Trespass allegations can result in lifelong concerns – legal and psychological consequences. The continued enforcement of discriminatory trespass claims cause significant harms, including demonstrative public health effects on African Americans. In recounting Boynton, the Article draws from its legacy forms of action to address discriminatory trespass enforcement

Sankofa: Traditions of Mentoring Among Black Women Educators

The importance of the standpoint of Black women educators is rarely understood and even more infrequently recognized as a position of exceptional knowledge in regard to the field of education. Research highlights maternal relationships grounded in traditional practices of community uplift and connectedness as a common factor in the effectiveness of Black women educators. This project frames Black women educators within Black women\u27s culture of Sisterhood and Motherhood as defined by Patricia Hill Collins (2009). This study explored the influence of sisterhood and motherhood in the experiences of Black women educators and the impact of those experiences on their work as educators. The analysis derived from a series of four semi-structured interviews and informal follow-up conversations with three of my close sister friends who are educators in a Midwest Public school system. Three narrative portraits of Black women educators were created based on a 6-month portraiture study involving the collection of observable data, semi-structured and informal interviews and discourse analysis to capture the perspective of Black women educators in the field of education. Through an examination of this portrait study and other studies on Black women\u27s culture and pedagogical engagement, this project provides examples of Black women educators who embody the essence of Sankofa in the form of mentoring. Findings indicated that mentoring among Black women educators builds on a tradition of sisterhood and motherhood in the Black community. These findings provide three culturally relevant components apparent in the mentoring experiences of these participants: self-actualization, socio-political awareness and mothering of the mind

The Influence and Evolution of Cultural Competence in K12 Classroom Practice, Handbook Content, and Discipline Policies

Classrooms are becoming diverse nationwide. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (2022), the cultural demographics of elementary and secondary high school classrooms consisted of white, black, Hispanic, Asian, Pacific Islander, American Indian, Alaska Native, and two or more unidentified cultures. Therefore, teachers, administrators, and staff must create an environment that embraces cultural competence. Also, it is important to remember when a teacher displays cultural competence, they demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of cultural differences and take action accordingly (Macqueen et al., 2020, p.116). This study focused on two questions. First, if I surveyed a k12 public school classroom teacher about their perception of the evolution of cultural competence in classroom practices, in what ways would the information alter my understanding of how teachers view cultural competence? In addition, If I reviewed the handbook and policies of a k12 public school, would the policies and handbook information reflect cultural competence, and in what ways, if any, would my understanding be altered about incorporating cultural competence in a handbook and discipline policies? My thoughts regarding the importance of cultural competence in classroom practice and policies were not changed. Cultural competence is necessary to ensure that all students have equitable access.https://griffinshare.fontbonne.edu/edd-projects-2023/1000/thumbnail.jp

Distinguished, Endowed, and Underrepresented: A Phenomenological Exploration of Talent Development among Expert Black Scholars in Education

This purpose of this qualitative study was to explore and gain an in-depth understanding of the lived experiences of talent development toward successful outcomes among 10 expert Black scholars in the field of education. A transcendental phenomenological approach was employed to gather data through open-ended phone interviews. Research questions included: What are the talent development experiences of Black distinguished and endowed faculty in the field of education? How did contexts or situations influence or affect their path toward successful career outcomes? Five themes emerged from the interviews: (a) Background Influences and Preparation, (b) Connections, Mentoring, and Support, (c) Self-Preservation and Protection, (d) Purpose and Direction for Research, and (e) Navigation and Optimization for Success. The expert scholars utilized causal agency and social networking during their talent development process, and engaged in deliberate decision-making. They valued the influence and support of family and community, as well as teachers, mentors, and other role models in various capacities and contexts as they matriculated toward successful outcomes. Although participants received assistance from their families and mentors for dealing with challenges, each would have benefitted from formal psychosocial skills development training. School districts should emphasize the merits of developing interpersonal skills, as well as help-seeking and self-advocacy strategies for success. Colleges and universities should establish and maintain welcoming department climates centered on supportive and professional collegiality for productivity. Respect for research interests and the dissemination of implicit yet pertinent information to faculty of color may also help them to prepare for successful careers in academia

The Structures that Bind: An Examination of Housing and Wealth Inequality in America and a Proposal for an Effective Economic Solution

Given America’s violently racist history, it should not come as a surprise that housing inequality still runs rampant in 21st century American cities. What may come as more of a surprise, however, is the true complexity of housing inequality and its broader implications. Housing inequality is not an independent phenomena and there are a multitude of structures which enable housing discrimination to interact with and perpetuate other forms of discrimination. Economically speaking, a public banking option in the U.S would serve as an effective tool to regulate household finance and chip away at the foundations of inequality. While there are currently only three small public banks in the United States today, this paper examines Congresswomen Alexandria Occasio-Cortez and Rashida Tlaib’s 2020 Public Banking Act proposal as a contemporary movement towards an inclusive financial system. Additionally, it outlines a model in which public banks could be positioned to economically address inequality and critically analyzes the impact of such a bank