The Cost of Education Injustice
What Senate Bill 5384 Means for Black Children
As a mother, I’ve witnessed how education can transform lives, offering hope, opportunity, and a pathway to success. But Senate Bill 5384, which aims to abolish the U.S. Department of Education, threatens to strip those opportunities away — especially for Black children and marginalized communities.
This isn’t just another policy proposal; it’s a direct attack on decades of progress toward equity and justice in education.
For many Black families, education has always been more than just academics — it’s been a battleground for freedom and equality. I’ve seen the power of education in my own children’s lives. It’s opened doors and helped them dream big. But I also know the barriers that so many Black children face: underfunded schools, systemic racism, and lack of resources. The Department of Education plays a critical role in addressing these inequities, ensuring that students — regardless of race, zip code, or economic status — have a fair chance to succeed. Senate Bill 5384 puts all of that at risk.
What Happens Without Federal Oversight: A History of Injustice
History shows us what happens when education is left entirely to the states. The story of Prince Edward County, Virginia, is a chilling example of how Black children are often the first to suffer in a system without accountability.
In 1954, the Supreme Court’s Brown v. Board of Education decision declared segregation in public schools unconstitutional. Yet instead of integrating, officials in Prince Edward County shut down their entire public school system in 1959 to avoid educating Black and white children together. For five years, Black children were denied formal education, while white families sent their children to private academies funded by state tax credits and tuition grants.
An entire generation of Black students lost years of learning, their futures permanently altered. It wasn’t until 1964, when federal oversight forced the schools to reopen and integrate, that this injustice ended. By then, the damage had already been done.
The scars of those years are a painful reminder of what happens when states are left unchecked to decide the futures of Black children.
The Dangers of Senate Bill 5384
Senate Bill 5384 would dismantle the Department of Education and scatter its programs across various federal agencies, handing most control back to the states. Programs like the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Pell Grants, and Title I funding — which support students with disabilities, low-income families, and underfunded schools — would no longer be managed by a central body focused on education. This fragmentation could lead to inefficiencies, underfunding, and loss of accountability.
The bill also proposes giving states block grants to allocate education funds as they see fit. While this might sound reasonable, history tells us that it would create massive disparities. Wealthier states and districts would thrive, while poorer, often majority-Black communities would face devastating resource shortages. Without federal oversight, nothing would stop states from deprioritizing the needs of marginalized students.
A Black Mother’s Perspective
As a Black mother, I’ve fought to ensure my children have access to opportunities that weren’t always available to our people. I’ve watched my sons— Micah, Malik, and Markelle — excel in sports, academics, and the arts because they had access to the resources they needed. But I know how hard Black families have had to fight for these opportunities.
My family, like so many Black families, knows the struggle of being denied access to spaces where we belong. We’ve seen the gaps in funding, the lack of Black teachers, and the erasure of Black history in schools. And while federal oversight hasn’t solved all these problems, it has given us a tool to hold states accountable and fight for better. Senate Bill 5384 threatens to take even that away.
This bill risks more than just cutting funding or reshuffling programs — it risks deepening the systemic inequities that Black families have fought against for generations. It risks creating a system where Black children are once again left behind, their futures determined by the color of their skin and the resources of their state.
A Call to Action
The stakes are too high to stay silent. This is more than a debate about policy — it’s a fight for our children’s futures. If Senate Bill 5384 becomes law, Black children and their families will be among the first to feel its devastating effects. We must act now to protect their right to an equitable education.
Here’s how we can take action:
• Contact Your Representatives: Call, write, or email your senators and members of Congress to voice your opposition to Senate Bill 5384. Make it clear that dismantling the Department of Education is unacceptable and puts Black children’s futures at risk.
• Raise Awareness in Our Communities: Share the story of Prince Edward County and the dangers of this bill with your family, friends, and neighbors. Many people may not realize how this bill could disproportionately harm Black communities.
• Support Black-Led Advocacy Groups: Organizations fighting for educational equity need our support. Donate, volunteer, or join their efforts to protect access to quality education for all children.
• Stay Informed: Follow the progress of this bill and other policies affecting Black education. Attend town halls, ask questions, and demand accountability from our leaders.
Protecting Our Legacy
As someone born in Topeka, Kansas — the city at the heart of the Brown v. Board of Education decision — I feel the weight of that history every day. That case wasn’t just about ending segregation; it was about affirming that every child, including Black children, deserves access to quality education. Senate Bill 5384 is a direct threat to that legacy and to the progress we’ve fought so hard to achieve.
We cannot let history repeat itself. We owe it to our ancestors who fought for the right to learn, to our children who deserve better, and to future generations who will carry this fight forward. Let’s honor their sacrifices by continuing the work.
The promise to abolish the Department of Education isn’t just policy talk — it’s a direct threat to Black children’s futures and a chilling reminder of the inequities we’ve fought for generations to overcome. We’ve seen this playbook before, and we cannot allow it to succeed. Our fight for justice and opportunity demands action — before it’s too late.
