REPAIR
A Legacy of Action
W.E.B Du Bois continues to inspire new generations to undo the harm caused by historical injustices and to work for changes that promote equity, inclusion, and justice. Students like those from the Jubilee School carry on Du Bois’ legacy through their writing and activism.
Two kids from the Jubilee School celebrate Du Bois’ birthday by making top hats, reflecting Du Bois’ formality when conducting his research in Philadelphia.
Now is the accepted time, not tomorrow, not some more convenient season. It is today that our best work can be done and not some future day or future year. It is today that we fit ourselves for the greater usefulness of tomorrow. Today is the seed time, now are the hours of work, and tomorrow comes the harvest and the playtime.
W.E.B. Du Bois, Three African-American Classics: Up from Slavery, The Souls of Black Folk and Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass
Du Bois Named Social Work Pioneer
Stephanie Boddie and Amy Hillier successfully nominated Du Bois to be a “social work pioneer” through the National Association of Social Workers Foundation (NASWF) in 2023. They both attended the Social Work Pioneers Event in Washington DC where Du Bois’ great-grandson, Arthur McFarlane II, was the guest speaker.
Du Bois’ great grandson, Arthur McFarlane II, spoke via Zoom from Hawaii at the 2023 NASWF event when Du Bois was named a “social work pioneer.”
Searching for Black-Owned Businesses
Penn urban studies students researched Black-owned businesses in the Seventh Ward. One student made a podcast based on interviews about Penn’s work with Black-owned restaurants while another mapped the addresses of Black-owned caterers and restaurants in Philadelphia, historically and at present.
REPAIR
West Philadelphia High School
Students from Matt Malone’s social studies course at West Philadelphia High School learned about Du Bois and his social survey methods, then put those methods to use studying topics of relevance to them.
West Philadelphia High School pose while conducting field work around their school, following in the research tradition of Du Bois.
Perspectives
Dana King
High School Students want to Ask Questions
The Hallway
Inspired by conducting observation research near their school and watching the documentary “The Corner” (prequel to “The Wire”), students conducted an ethnographic study of the school hallway. The hallway was an appealing research topic because it is “a popular place to hang out for students, but administration tries to be in control of it.”
Students at West Philadelphia High School conducted research about how and why peers spent time in the school’s hallways, even during class.
School Uniforms
Students at West Philadelphia High School conducted surveys with peers about the school uniform policy.
Student researchers also conducted surveys with 100 students using digital devices and conducted video-taped interviews with students, teachers, and administrators about how students wear their school uniforms. More than 25% of students had been sent home to change for not complying with the uniform policy, and nearly all said having a uniform policy did not reduce violence or help them focus better on learning.
Perspectives
Tukufu Zuberi
On the Importance of The Philadelphia Negro to High School Students
Jubilee School Students Take Action
The Jubilee School a pre-k to 6th grade independent school in West Philadelphia with a strong tradition of promoting student curiosity and empowerment. Students have made multiple trips to Great Barrington MA, first to locate and then celebrate Du Bois’ burial place. They started their own publishing company to distribute the textbooks they have written.
Students from the Jubilee School have published multiple books of history, poetry and art including this textbook that describes historical figures including Du Bois.
Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.
Harriet Tubman
Jimmy Calnan and The Free Library
Jimmy Calnan lived in the Seventh Ward in a small “trinity” house on Camac Street. Frustrated that the Free Library had so few copies of The Philadelphia Negro he helped raise money to purchase copies for all branches in Philadephia.
Jimmy Calnan (left) and Amy Hillier (right) delivered 100 copies of The Philadelphia Negro to the Free Library of Philadelphia in 2008.