Sankofa is an intriguing African symbol that has implications for African American music education. It is derived from the Twi and Fante language of the Akan tribe in West Africa. Sa means returning, ko – go and fa – look, seek, take. When adapted, translated, and applied to music education of African Americans, it requires looking back in time to identify and document inequities and advancements in order to create a more equitable music education for African Americans, now and in the future. In this Special Issue of the Journal of Historical Research in Music Education articles focus on music education during the twentieth century, particularly from the years leading up to the Civil Rights Movement (1954–1968) to the end of the century.

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