Strength through Diversity: Harlem Prep and the Rise of Multiculturalism

For nearly seven years, from 1967 to 1974, many hundreds of bright, college-going youth—most of whom had previously been labeled as high school “dropouts”—would proudly celebrate their graduation from Harlem Prep, a small educational experiment that grew to become a nationally renowned, cherished community institution in the iconic Black neighborhood of Harlem. Operating in a repurposed supermarket that used blackboards as classroom dividers, the school’s unique multicultural philosophy inspired all who stepped foot inside. This philosophy, exemplified by the school’s motto of “unity through diversity,” shaped the school’s ethos, fostered student achievement, and, most of all, made Harlem Prep distinct from any other educational institution, past or present. In Strength through Diversity, Barry M. Goldenberg shares the history of this one-of-a-kind multicultural institution from its rise to its apex and decline, revealing the collective stories of hope, struggle, and love from administrators, teachers, community members, and students. Using history as a blueprint, Goldenberg illustrates the untapped potential of multicultural education in the ongoing quest for educational equity.  

Table of Contents:
Preface Introduction             Part I   The Origins of Harlem Prep, 1966–1968 1     Callender, Carpenter, and the Founding of Harlem Prep 2     Seeds of Multiculturalism in the Inaugural Year             Part II  The Rise of Harlem Prep, 1968–1972 3     Laying the Groundwork: Administrators and the Supermarket Space 4     The Practice of the Carpenters’ Multiculturalism Vision 5     “As I Taught, I Learned”: Teachers, Pedagogy, and the Education Program 6     “It Saved Me”: Students, Their Stories, and a Commencement to Remember 7     Building a Community Coalition: Harlem Prep’s Supporters and “Friends”             Part II  The Decline of Harlem Prep, 1972–1974 8     Diverging Realities: Adaptability and Uncertainty in a Changing Era 9     The Final Year and Struggle with the New York City Board of Education Epilogue Preface ix Introduction: Multiculturalism, Harlem, and the Power of Student Potential 1 PA R T I The Origins of Harlem Prep, 1966–1968 1 Callender, Carpenter, and the Founding of Harlem Prep 17 2 Seeds of Multiculturalism in the Inaugural Year 37 PA R T I I The Rise of Harlem Prep, 1968–1972 3 Laying the Groundwork: Administrators and the Supermarket Space 59 4 The Practice of the Carpenters’ Multicultural Vision 73 5 “As I Taught, I Learned”: Teachers, Pedagogy, and the Educational Program 89 6 “It Saved Me”: Students, Their Stories, and Commencements to Remember 113 7 Building a Community Coalition: Harlem Prep’s Supporters and “Friends” 132 PA RT I I I The Descent of Harlem Prep, 1972–1974 8 Diverging Realities: Adaptability and Uncertainty in a Changing Era 159 9 The Final Year and Struggle with the New York City Board of Education 177 Epilogue: The Legacy of Harlem Prep 199 Acknowledgments 207 Oral History and Interview Participants 213 Notes 215 Index 000