Staying Power with Danielle Wingfield
From The Integrated Schools Podcast by Andrew Lefkowits, Val Brown, Courtney Mykytyn
February 11, 2026 · 52 min · Season 12 · Episode 9
About this episode
Dr. Danielle Wingfield discusses the historical context of resistance to public education and the cyclical nature of backlash against it.
What does it mean to outlast backlash? In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Danielle Wingfield—legal historian, law professor, and public education advocate—whose work sits at the intersection of history, civil rights, democracy, and family. Together, we trace the long arc of resistance to public education, from enslavement and segregation to today’s fights over curriculum, parental rights, and school privatization. Dr. Wingfield helps us see that what feels overwhelming right now isn’t new—it’s cyclical. And that clarity matters. When we understand the playbook, we can respond with intention instead of panic. We talk about: The history of massive resistance—and why today’s attacks on public education are part of a much longer project How curriculum control, “parental rights,” and privatization have been used before to maintain racial hierarchy Why public schools remain essential to democracy—and why they’re being targeted so aggressively What “home place” looks like: community care, shared responsibility, mutual aid, and kinship beyond bloodlines Why progress always brings backlash—and why staying power is how movements win This conversation is both grounding and galvanizing. It…
People in this episode
Hosts: Andrew Lefkowits, Val Brown, Courtney Mykytyn
Guest: Danielle Wingfield
Topics covered
- public education
- civil rights
- curriculum control
- parental rights
- school privatization
- community care
- historical resistance
Keywords
- massive resistance
- public schools
- democracy
- racial hierarchy
- backlash
- community care
- kinship
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Washington and Lee Law Journal
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