I started recommending this book to people before I even started reading it. Now that I’ve finished it, I’m more adamant than ever that it’s a must-read, especially for educators and people who hold power and influence over classrooms.

Original Sins is an in-depth look at the history of the education system in the U.S. and its roots in white settler colonialism. Ewing packs every page with air tight evidence, which I learned via her interview on the podcast The Stacks was a tactic to ensure none of the information she shared could be dismissed as exaggeration. This attention to detail and inclusion of quotes from primary sources makes the book all the more impactful. 

One of my major takeaways from this book was the way white women who are otherwise remembered for being abolitionists actively contributed to the formation of education as a way to control Black and Native children, minimize the violence inflicted by white supremacist settlers, and prevent retaliation. It amplified for me the role that white women still play today of policing Black and Native people’s behaviors especially in response to violence. For instance, even leftist white women will decry protest measures they (we) consider to be “too extreme” and will claim that Black and Native people are setting “the movement” back if actions aren’t “peaceful.” I hope other white women reading this will take it as a wake-up call.

There’s so much I could say about this book. But what I really want is for you to read it so we can talk about it and learn from it together!

Robin Miles is an excellent narrator for the audiobook! I recommend this format highly. I  plan to also buy a physical copy to annotate and lend out. I think this would also be a great book to read and listen to simultaneously to keep maximum focus.