This conceptual analysis centers two historical periods in which Black communities in the United States secured educational rights for themselves in spite of (not because of) intervention from the federal government. Drawing from the Critical Race Theory, the authors argue that Reconstruction and the post-"Brown" era offer valuable lessons for school leaders today about the ability--and even need--to operate autonomously from formal channels. The authors feature lessons from Reconstruction and "Brown" regarding self-reliance, community control, and the hard-won victories whose benefits extended far beyond the Black community itself. The authors conclude with implications for school leaders.