MAMIE TAKES A STAND: A Chinese American Girl's Fight for School Rights

Decisions made by the United States Supreme Court matter. 

We  know that now than ever before. 

The 1950s decision, Brown v Board of Education, did matter. Even so, there are plenty of voices reminding us that the ruling meant that separate schools were by default "inferior". Many Black teachers and others lost jobs as a result. Mamie Tate, the central inspiring individual in this biographic picture book, played a role in winning that decision, along with Ruby Bridges, Linda Brown, Sylvia Mendez and others who were part of the case. Learn more about Mamie's little-known personal journey in this hew offering.

TEN PEAKS PRESS, 2024

MAMIE TAKES A STAND: A Chinese American Girl's Fight for School Rights is written by Marie Chan and illustrated by Sian James. Mamie Tate was born in the United States to parents who had migrated from China during a period in which this country offered open migration policies between the two nations. They arrived legally, established a secure home, and raised a family of three children in this country. All three were Chinese American, but entitled to full citizenship by birth. 

The family did not live in San Francisco's Chinatown, as many immigrants did. Their home was in a neighborhood of white folks who had also traveled to gain the opportunities California offered at that time. 

The Tate family assimilated fully: in home decor, dress, language, and social practices. Mamie played with the girls in her neighborhood and was eager to attend the local public school just around the corner. You can guess by our history and by the title that she was denied that right, turned away at the door by the school administrator.

This well-researched and compellingly told account of the struggle that ensued spans many years, with Mamie always holding center stage. Her parents, of course, deserve accolades for their pursuit of every legal avenue and their insistence on securing the rights of their children. Success through the Supreme Court decision did not come early in Mamie's education, but there were steps toward progress along the way. Her right to public education was granted, but only by building a separate school for Chinese American students. Administration from local through state levels were adamant that white and Chinese children NOT attend the same schools. Even there, Mamie was separate, often the only girl because it was considered  more important to educate boys. That did not keep Mamie from attending, learning, excelling, and continuing her progress to gain a full education. 

Her persistence and eventual success will win hearts of readers.

In back matter, author Chan reveals her efforts to use primary sources, contact Mamie's descendants, incorporate family photos and accounts within a story that resonates with authenticity. This is a welcome and important book to celebrate the value of education, and to expand awareness of bias and outright discrimination throughout history, aimed at a wide variety of differences. Add it to your hime libraries and classrooms.