The Student Debt CrisisPublished by Broadleaf Books
Published by Broadleaf Books
The student debt crisis is a civil rights issue, and it’s time we start treating it like one.
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Available Sept. 16, 2025
Based on extensive interviews with students, college administrators, policymakers, and other leaders, The Student Debt Crisis illuminates one of the nation’s most urgent and pressing civil rights questions of the last three decades: Who gets to go to college? This book comprehensively examines the history and current state of the student debt crisis in the US. With a focus on the moral imperative of ensuring equal access to higher education, The Student Debt Crisis highlights the disproportionate impact of student debt on Black and brown students, particularly Black women. By delving into the history and practical realities of student debt, higher-education journalist Jamal Watson sheds light on the challenges faced by debt-laden college graduates and non-graduates alike.
From the rising number of borrowers defaulting on their loans to the barriers that hinder accessibility for those from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, Watson offers a deeper understanding of the student debt crisis on macro and micro levels. As the spotlight on student debt continues to grow, The Student Debt Crisis is a vital resource for anyone seeking a comprehensive understanding of this issue. From policymakers shaping paths of action to families and students navigating educational choices, this book offers essential insights and potential solutions to these pressing challenges.
Media Coverage
Library Journal: Review of The Student Debt Crisis: America’s Moral Urgency
Higher Education Inquirer: Student Loan Debt: The Panic Starts May 5th
Diverse: Issues In Higher Education: America's $1.7 Trillion Moral Crisis: A Searing Indictment of Higher Education’s Broken Promise
US Black Engineer and Information Technology: Paying less than the Sticker Price for College
"Student debt is a crisis that unites large swaths of the American public across axes of race, class, and gender. Jamal Watson's brilliant book The Student Debt Crisis is both timely and necessary. One of America's leading public intellectuals delivers an analytical history of this pressing issue while offering an impassioned plea for relief of debt that crushes the future of millions of citizens. This compelling and cogent moral argument for national assistance to vulnerable members of our society should be read by all -- but especially by politicians who hold the purse strings and public-policy makers who put their visions into action."
Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, University Distinguished Professor of African American and Diaspora Studies, Vanderbilt University
"If you're looking for a compelling and comprehensive book on student loan debt, then look no further. Watson has written a groundbreaking book, sharing policy, data, and real stories, that persuasively calls for action, especially around racial justice. He calls for an end to blaming the victim and makes the case that college is one American dream that students should not be penalized with extraordinary fiscal debt for pursuing. Watson offers moral, practical, doable recommendations to support and honor those seeking a college degree. A must-read from beginning to end."
Dr. Donna Y. Ford, Distinguished Professor of Education and Human Ecology, The Ohio State University
"Jamal Watson has written a superb and courageous book on a crucial yet overlooked issue: student debt. His visionary scholarship continues to matter."
Dr. Cornel West, author of Race Matters, and the Dietrich Bonhoeffer Professor of Philosophy & Christian Practice at Union Theological Seminary
"Jamal Watson's The Student Debt Crisis is both a brilliant call to arms regarding one of the pressing civil rights issues of the era and an insightful and urgent moral plea to reimagine the possibility and promise of American democracy. An excellent and invigorating read."
Dr. Peniel E. Joseph, author of The Sword and the Shield and The Third Reconstruction, among other books, and founding director of the Center for the Study of Race and Democracy at University of Texas at Austin
"Few citizens know more about American higher education than Jamal Watson. This book is perhaps the greatest demonstration of his undisputed expertise. The magnitude of this significant, consciousness-raising contribution to the literature on our nation's student debt crisis cannot be overstated."
Dr. Shaun Harper, author of Let's Talk About DEI, and the Clifford and Betty Allen Chair in Urban Leadership at the University of Southern California
“Watson, professor, journalist, and executive editor of Diverse: Issues in Higher Education delivers a different perspective on the current U.S. student-debt crisis. He explains that of the 45 million people who owe 1.7 trillion in student-loan debt, women hold nearly two-thirds of that, with the crisis disproportionately affecting brown and Black students. Chapters examine the factors driving the crisis, including legislation. He shares narratives from college administrators, students, and others in the field to give a broad view of the issue of access to higher education. As Watson examines the question of who gets into college, he delves into socioeconomic barriers students face. He also addresses hidden costs including affording textbooks, a lack of money for food, additional fees, and juggling work with studies. As the student-debt crisis continues to persist, many will find this book insightful, well researched, and easy to read. It will appeal to those interested in civil rights and college admissions and to parents and students who are navigating the cost and decisions regarding higher education."
— Jennifer Adams
YA: College-bound teens will find useful information here as they contemplate payment options for higher education. JA.
— Booklist
“This book isn’t just about student debt, though Dr. Jamal Watson’s analysis of the crisis is sharp as a razor. What he’s done here is connect the dots between yesterday’s struggles and today’s fights.”
-Reverend Al Sharpton, Political, Civil Rights, and Social Justice Activist