Abstract:
This study explored the perceptions of 14 African Americans from Prince Edward County, Virginia regarding their lived experiences as scholarship recipients for the Brown v. Board of Education Scholarship Program and Fund. Using the lens of critical race theory, the purpose of this study was to better understand how students perceived the fund and to understand how and to what extent the fund provided educational restoration for their denied education due to massive resistance over fifty years ago. Individual interviews were conducted with each participant and generated a number of themes relevant to each case. Further, a cross-case analysis revealed four common themes amongst the data and included: (a) necessary structures (b) characteristics of the recipients, (c) policy impact, and (d) restoration revisions. The findings from this study suggested that a more comprehensive restorative justice program might better address the many losses incurred as a result of the school closings. Further, a comprehensive restorative justice program would not exclude displaced student populations and would be sensitive to the fact that participants are older adults. Moreover, policymakers should consider extending funding to relatives of affected students to mitigate generational impact.
