Historicizing the Equity Director Position: Black Community Advocacy by an Intergroup Relations Specialist

Current studies suggest the equity director (ED) position is a new PK-12 position that addresses systemic inequities. Conceptualizing the ED role as new does not properly historicize the position’s linkage to prior central office roles that address systemic PK-12 inequities. This paper examines W.A. Robinson, a central office administrator from 1954 through 1956, whose position shared ED-type leadership activity. This study analyzes Robinson’s leadership activity through Wake Work and Culturally Sustaining Leadership theories. Through a historical case study, this article analyzes archival data, including academic journal articles, newspaper articles, and secondary scholarly literature. The findings suggest Robinson engaged in Black community advocacy, providing his community counsel, creating forums of discussion about issues of anti-Blackness, and partnering with the school community to address anti-Blackness and other systemic inequities. This study historicizes the ED position and suggests there is potential for EDs to become community leaders.