Skip to main content

Book Review: Mamie Phipps Clark, Champion for Children

Editor's Note: This review was first published in Los Angeles Book Review.
Author Dr. Lynnette Mawhinney

Pioneering researcher and educator Dr. Mamie Phipps Clark, the first Black woman to earn a Ph.D. in Psychology from the prestigious Columbia University, may not be a household name. However, her groundbreaking research on Black children’s self-identity paved the way for the desegregation of public schools. Along with her husband, Kenneth, she defied the confines of racial norms of their time. Clark pursued graduate studies in the 1940s and testified as an expert in the landmark case Brown vs. Board of Education.

Black history is American history. Author Dr. Lynnette Mawhinney shares the significance of Clark’s legacy in Mamie Phipps Clark: Champion for Children in an information-rich and thought-provoking book that exemplifies Black excellence, courage, and service. Illustrated by Neil Evans, the book captures the hopes, aspirations and triumphs of the Clarks, a young, gifted Black couple who used their educational privilege and scholarship to advance equality for the Black community.

The graphic novel format makes it accessible for readers of all ages to immerse themselves in the story of sacrifice and deep concern for the community. Mawhinney provides well-placed commentary and action steps for readers to consider. It is an engaging read for anyone who is interested in keeping alive the legacy of people who worked diligently to ensure equitable access to educational opportunities for all American children.

Buy from Capital Books

Popular posts from this blog

Medicine Wheel for the Planet

Jennifer Grenz, PhD       Working toward ecological healing requires awareness of how Indigenous ancestral knowledge and living ways can complement Western scientific approaches to environmental restoration and protection practices. Dr. Jennifer Grenz (Nlaxa’pamux mixed ancestry) worked for more than two decades as a field researcher and practitioner for environmental nonprofit organizations, where she worked with different levels of government, including First Nations in Canada. "Medicine Wheel for the Planet" compiles Grenz’s most potent realizations about the lack of forward movement in addressing an impending ecological catastrophe.  A warming climate impacts not only human lives but also the natural balance that relies on reciprocal relationships rooted in deep connections to the land. She uses the metaphor of the four directions of the Indigenous “medicine wheel” to invite openness to Indigenous teachings, letting go of colonial narratives, merging lessons f...

Memento - Embracing the Darkness

Dennis "Dizzy" Doan Stories about overcoming and persevering through family dysfunction, poverty, and mental health challenges offer hope and the promise of better days. Dennis “Dizzy” Doan’s memoir Memento: Embracing the Darkness is one such story, with the added complexity of being raised in an immigrant Vietnamese family. Doan’s parents dealt with the mental and emotional aftermath of war, which forcibly uprooted them from their homeland. In the United States, they struggled to create a safe and stable life for their two sons. Doan shares his journey of finding himself, his craft, and eventually a successful tattoo business in Southern California despite personal strife and run-ins with the law. Doan is best known for developing the aesthetic language to combat anti-Asian hate that erupted during the COVID-19 pandemic. His art series titled “Model Minority” went viral, sparking conversation about Asian American identities and harmful stereotypes. In Memento, Doan showcase...

Enlighten Me

Editor's Note: This review was originally published in Los Angeles Book Review . Author Minh Lê Standing up for oneself seems like doing the right thing. Binh did just that in the face of a racist school bully who was poking fun at his Asian heritage. But physically assaulting another student goes against school policy, and it was Binh who got in trouble. Binh shares a silent retreat with his family and younger siblings. Along with other children, he learns about stories from the previous lives of the Buddha. The stories are interesting, but for Binh, it is difficult to sit still and clear his mind when he misses his Gameboy. While he struggles with silence, he learns important lessons about friendship, community, and being present. In the graphic novel "Enlighten Me," award-winning author Minh Lê and bestselling illustrator Chan Chau tell the story of a boy who gains a better understanding of himself as he works on quieting the mind and reflecting on dharma. Lê and Ch...