Strength through Diversity

Harlem Prep and the Rise of Multiculturalism

Barry M. Goldenberg

• Publisher: Rutgers University Press
• Year: 2025
• Print ISBN:
  9781978823396
  9781978823402
• eBook ISBN:
  9781978823419
• Topic: Education
• Subtopic: Education General

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.

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Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Dedication
• Epigraph
• Contents
• Preface
• Introduction: Multiculturalism, Harlem, and the Power of Student Potential
• Part I: The Origins of Harlem Prep, 1966–1968
• Part II: The Rise of Harlem Prep, 1968–1972
• Part III: The Descent of Harlem Prep, 1972–1974
• Epilogue: The Legacy of Harlem Prep
• Acknowledgments
• Oral History and Interview Participants
• Notes
• Index
• About the Author