Pushout: The Criminalization of Black Girls in Schools

For Black girls, in particular, the struggle for equality starts early – in school hallways and classrooms, where disciplinary actions often are disproportionately harsh. In Missouri, according to analysis by the American Civil Liberties Union, African American girls are five times more likely to be arrested in school than their white classmates. The disparity has led to an alarming high school dropout rate for Black girls and swell of their cases in the juvenile justice system. Monique W. Morris, an award-winning author and social justice scholar who is executive director of Grantmakers for Girls of Color, examines the issue in her book. In a series of community conversations focusing on Morris's book, attendees suggested these additional resources.