Colors of Solidarity

This is the true story of a little-known but painfully relevant chapter in the Boston Teachers Union’s history in the years following school desegregation. A conflict between affirmative action and union seniority came to a head in 1981, when 710 tenured white teachers were slated to be laid off in proportion to less-senior black teachers to comply with federal requirements for teacher diversity. Come with me to explore the contradicting narratives of three key groups: black rank-and-file teachers, white rank-and-file teachers, and the– white– Boston Teachers Union leadership. As supporting characters, the Mayor, Boston Public Schools leadership, the School Committee, the Federal Courts, parents, and the press will all make appearances. What was the relationship between black educators and the union? Whose voices were heard? How did the various stakeholders build and exercise their power? And how did they tell the story at the time and in the years that followed? Tune in to find out! By Ari Branz.