Pushout: The Criminalization of Black Girls in Schools

Pushout examines how Black girls face disproportionate discipline and criminalization within American schools. Through interviews and research, Morris documents the experiences of Black female students across the United States who have been suspended, expelled, or pushed into the juvenile justice system. The book presents statistics and case studies that reveal patterns of institutional bias, from dress code enforcement to behavioral expectations. Morris includes conversations with students, educators, and justice system officials to build a comprehensive picture of the school-to-confinement pathway. Morris traces historical contexts of race and gender in education while highlighting current policies that impact Black girls' academic outcomes. The text incorporates first-hand accounts that demonstrate how disciplinary actions often ignore trauma, poverty, and other underlying factors affecting student behavior. The work stands as both an exposé of systemic inequities and a call for educational reform centered on healing rather than punishment. By focusing on often-overlooked experiences of Black girls, Morris illuminates broader questions about racism, sexism, and justice in American education.

Readers emphasize the book's research depth and personal narratives that highlight systemic issues facing Black girls in education. Many note the book fills a gap in literature about school-to-prison pipeline discussions, which often focus on Black male students. Readers liked: - Clear documentation of specific cases and statistics - First-person accounts from students - Practical solutions and policy recommendations - Accessible writing style for both educators and general readers Readers disliked: - Repetitive points throughout chapters - Limited focus on solutions compared to problem analysis - Some found the academic tone challenging Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 4.39/5 (2,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.8/5 (1,200+ ratings) Common reader comment: "Opens eyes to issues many educators miss in their classrooms" Several teachers mentioned using excerpts for professional development sessions, though some noted the full book can be overwhelming for staff book clubs.

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📚 Black girls are 16% of female students but nearly one-third of all female school-based arrests 💡 Author Monique W. Morris co-founded the National Black Women's Justice Institute, dedicated to reducing barriers to racial and gender justice 📖 The book draws from interviews with over 30 formerly incarcerated young Black women who shared their personal school experiences 🎓 Studies cited in "Pushout" show Black girls are suspended six times more often than white girls for the same infractions 🗣️ The term "pushout" was specifically chosen over "dropout" to emphasize the systemic forces that remove students from educational settings rather than suggesting they chose to leave