YOUR CHILDREN ARE VERY GREATLY IN DANGER by Justin Murphy deals with School Segregation in Rochester, New York. Murphy, the education reporter for the local paper named Democrat and Chronicle, explores the history of school segregation from the time (mid 1800s) when Frederick Douglass lived there to the present day, describing Rochester as a test case with state and national implications. He identifies three main themes: "persistent white opposition to racial integration... [which] tended to soften only where it would benefit white families in some way ... [and] victories were earned through the long advocacy of Black parents." Although he presents quotes and arguments from all sides, Murphy states, "the consensus ... is clear; desegregation and integration offer the greatest opportunity to improve population-level educational and economic outcomes for children of color in the United States." YOUR CHILDREN ARE VERY GREATLY IN DANGER is a fascinating read which concludes with ambitious recommendations for direct, concrete action: a comprehensive report assessing the viability of a unified countywide school system; written policies for greater equity relative to the Urban-Suburban program; and "intensive antiracism education for children and adults in all Rochester-area school districts." I agree that there is application in other areas and I know of several Junior Theme students who will be interested in the material which Murphy so eloquently presents.

I was given the distinct pleasure to read this book, and I have many things to say. This is a case study of systematic oppression, which can be traced to and back from communities that hold POC predominantly in their midst. There is no one answer to this issue, where intersectionality plays a leading role in understanding the state of education and how it shapes our communities, starting with our children.

This book stands out in having a defined starting point, Rochester, and branching outwards to lay connections to outer communities and state-level systems that holds a mirror image of Rochester. In highlighting the communitys' fight for equity, there is the conversation of Brown v. Board of Education that leads us forward, highlighting grass-root efforts push forth by parents, students, and community leaders to open up more avenues in education.

In using first-hand accounts and documentation that allows us to relate on a personal basis to the impact of a system led by policy meant to undermine, there is a unique lens that shows us how this impacts us in modern times, from inception to 2022 as the lines of prejudice do not diminish, remaining silent.