Background & Purpose

History of Ethnic Studies

Ethnic Studies was founded here in the Bay Area by students of color who did not see themselves reflected in curriculum, in the midst of the social movements of the 1960s that called upon educational institutions to serve the needs of their local region by creating stronger links between the classroom and community. These students of color formed the Third World Liberation Front - a coalition of Native, Black, Asian American and Latino students - to establish the first Ethnic Studies programs at SF State and UC Berkeley after long and arduous student strikes that shut down both campuses. These students were the first teachers of Ethnic Studies classes, which went directly into surrounding neighborhoods to establish action projects that have led to now long-standing institutions serving communities of color.

This video about the ongoing student organizing at UC Berkeley tells the story of the origins:

Why Ethnic Studies?

"Humanizing pedagogies helps students radically heal from their suffering, allowing young people to explore the depths of their grief while helping them develop a deeper sense of control over their individual and collective destinies."

-- “Teach Like Lives Depend on It: Agitate, Arouse, and Inspire”

Dr. Patrick Roz Camangian

Stanford University's 2021 study documents the impacts of Ethnic Studies on student achievement and empowerment, resulting in increased attendance, passage rates, graduation rates and college enrollment. Ethnic Studies offers students who are marginalized in traditional curriculum a space to learn about their history, and to develop their academic identity in knowing that the classroom is a place for them to understand themselves, their family and communities in order to take action. It is an empowering pedagogy that can move students from a place of hopelessness to transformation.

Checkout the following talks by Ethnic Studies practitioners Ron Espiritu and Dr. Allyson Tintiangco-Cubales to learn more about the impacts and "why" of Ethnic Studies:

Ethnic Studies at OUSD

OUSD students have led campaigns for Ethnic Studies to be implemented in Oakland public schools for decades, including through community organizations such as AYPAL and Youth Together since the 1990s.

OUSD's Ethnic Studies Policy was passed in 2015, establishing 9th grade Ethnic Studies courses in high schools across the district and bringing educators together to develop the OUSD Ethnic Studies Framework. The 9th grade classes currently serve over 1,700 students each year. The 2020 School Board Ethnic Studies Resolution inspired the expansion of a teacher cohort across all grades to develop standards and model units from PreK-12, which was initiated by OUSD teachers.

The OUSD Ethnic Studies Team is a cross-departmental partnership between the History - Social Science team in Academic Instruction and Innovation, Linked Learning, the Office of Equity, and OUSD teachers.

Please contact Ethnic Studies / History Social Science Teacher on Special Assignment Leah Aguilera for more information: leah.aguilera@ousd.org