Education As My Agenda / Palgrave Studies in Oral History (PDF)

"Jo Ann Robinson's oral biography, Education as My Agenda: Gertrude Williams, Race, and the Baltimore Public Schools, is an incredibly rich and compelling exploration of the gross disparities that existed in our educational system as witnessed first hand by Gertrude Williams. Ms. Williams' account is that of an extraordinary woman who worked tirelessly to ensure that all children, regardless of race, were given the tools to succeed in life. The lessons and histories that Robinson recounts are riveting and still pertinent today. It is a must read for parents, educators, and concerned citizens, not only in Baltimore and Maryland, but across the nation." - Kweisi Mfume, former U.S. Congressman and CEO of the NAACP

"Education As My Agenda is a gripping narrative thoughtfully and clearly told by Gertrude Williams, deeply contextualized by Jo Ann Robinson. Williams recounts the struggle for excellent public education in Baltimore for almost half a century, always fighting for the good of the city's children. The book is an exemplary use of oral history, in which Williams tells her story with clarity and passion and Robinson places Williams's words within the framework of American education in the second half of the twentieth century." - Rebecca Sharpless, Baylor University Institute for Oral History

"According to Gertrude S. Williams, a veteran educator, sometimes you have 'to make thunder and lightning' to shake up the bureaucracy and get resources that teachers and students need. Her oral autobiography flashes with wisdom. Williams and Jo Ann O. Robinson offer a compelling primer on the politics of school reform, community organizing, and how to create schools that bring out the best in students." - Lu Ann Jones, author of Mama Learned Us to Work: Farm Women in the New South

"This book is readable, enjoyable, and instructive, telling the story of an educator single-mindedly focused on teaching children. It shows how a principal can work