A pillar of strength - An African American school's communal bonds' with families and community since Brown

From an in-depth qualitative study in St. Louis, Missouri, from 1994 to 199 7, this article highlights how one ail-Black school creates and sustains st rong communal bonds with African American families from a low-income commun ity. Reminiscent of the "goodness" of many all-Black schools before Brown, this school-Fairmont Elementary-sustains strong communal bonds with familie s and is a stabilizing force for the community. The message gleaned from th is study of Fairmont Elementary School is that the "goodness" of a school f or African American families and students may also be defined by the streng th and the nature of that school's communal bonds with Black families and c ommunities.