Unlearning the Hush

In Unlearning the Hush, Marlee S. Bunch draws on oral histories to illuminate the interior lives of Black women educators who taught in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, before and after desegregation. In their own voices, these women share the hurdles they faced guiding students through Jim Crow laws and Civil Rights–era desegregation, while also highlighting the vital role of Black homes and communities in fostering student success and resilience. This book talk explores the book’s themes of teaching, activism, and community care during a transformative period in American history.