Original Sins – Eve L. Ewing

Original Sins uncovers the hidden role of American schools in constructing and reinforcing racial inequality. Eve L. Ewing traces how education systems were never neutral but instead designed to uphold white supremacy, from Thomas Jefferson’s vision of racial hierarchy to policies targeting Black and Native children. For centuries, schools forced Native students to assimilate while training Black students for subservient roles, embedding racism into curricula, testing, and discipline. Ewing reveals how these structures persist today, from uneven resources to standardized testing that perpetuates stereotypes.
The book challenges the myth of education as a “great equalizer,” arguing instead that schools have been tools of oppression. Ewing highlights historical resistance—from rebellious teachers to student activists—while urging a radical reimagining of education. She weaves together scholarly research, personal narratives, and cultural critique to expose how systemic racism is woven into the fabric of American schooling.
Endorsed by thinkers like Michelle Alexander and featured in The New Yorker and Esquire , Original Sins is a call to action. Ewing demands that we confront uncomfortable truths about the purpose of education and fight for systems that center justice, equity, and collective liberation. This isn’t just a history book—it’s a roadmap for dismantling the machinery of inequality.