Anti-Racist Teaching

What is anti-racist teaching?

Anti-racist teaching is a method that seeks to create a classroom that is understanding of student’s perspectives, free of racial bias, and inclusive to all students. Anti-racist teaching is more than just a conversation to students but an environment that benefits students. According to Blumer and Tatum (1999), providing the language and conceptual framework to have a conversation with students is the first step to developing an anti-racist classroom. Basically, Blumer and Tatum are saying that anti-racist practices should be integrated into the curriculum for students to learn lessons that they can apply in the real world. Education has not always been a system that strives for diversity and equality. In fact, there are still many restrictions and policies in place that limit educators in what they are allowed to teach. Harrison et al. (2021) claimed that Ohio has a bill that asks teachers not to discuss topics related to critical race theory, which might tarnish the reputation of the United States. That is not the purpose of anti-racist teaching.

What are the benefits of anti-racist education, and why is it controversial?

Many students of color might feel undermined by their teachers because of the power dynamic between them. Anti-racist teaching requires teachers to meet their student with respect for their education and aid them in any way they can. If a black student asks a teacher to repeat something the teacher said, and the teacher responds with “you should have been paying attention,” that student may refrain from asking questions again. This could lead to students doing poorly on their assignments. If teachers were encouraging and patient with students of color, the student will feel more confident about completing their assignments and improve as learners. While there are many benefits that anti-racist teaching can have for students, it is also beneficial to the teachers as well. Teachers are successful when they create a classroom environment that supports students and respects their voices.

In his discussion of critical race theory (CRT), Wormeli (n.d.) assures readers that CRT and anti-racist teaching is not about establishing one race as superior to other races. On the contrary, the goal of CRT and anti-racist teaching is to educate students on oppression in government systems and how it does not encourage equality. Another common misconception, that has caused controversy among white people, is the idea that CRT and anti-racist teaching persuades white people to hate and blame themselves for all the horrible things that people of color in America have to go through (Wormeli n.d.). Teaching students about systemic racism in operations many people take for granted, like healthcare, workforce, and education, is meant to be an eye opener for students and lead them to question how fair are the systems at play.

What does an anti-racist classroom look like?

Anti-racist teaching can look different in different teacher’s classroom environment. In a suburban town near Boston, two educators, Blumer and Tatum, started by participating in a course that required them to analyze systemic oppression and stereotypes and its negative effects. (Blumer & Tatum 1999). Providing educators with additional education--that focuses on race issues in America--equips them with the necessary language and important concepts they can include in their lessons. Teachers can then create lessons and assign essays that require students to think critically. K.B. Hanna is a college professor that believes in learning through the experiences of students of color. Engaging in in-class discussions on tough topics of race forces students to get comfortable with the uncomfortable (Hanna 2019). Blumer and Tatum (1999) proceeded by creating school policies that required students to take on anti-racist behavior. Schools enforcing anti-racist policies, and making it a rule can have many pros and cons. One pro being that some students will follow their school policies in fear of negative consequences. However, enforcing such policies can have the opposite effect on other students who might see the policy as a challenge. One way of teaching anti-racism in the classroom does not exist.

Reflection & Conclusion

In conclusion, anti-racist teaching is meant to educate students on harmful stereotypes and teach them how to have an open mind about different races and cultures. This pedagogy should not lead to discomfort of one group in the classroom but invite all students to think critically about how institutions affect their lives as a group (Hanna, K.B., 2019; Denis, V., & Schick, C., 2003). Future educators need to care about anti-racism, and allow equal opportunity for each of their students, as much as they want the students to learn about it. Creating lesson plans that center around identity, and choosing text that depict different perspectives of a variety of cultures is just as important as good intentions. Denis and Schick (2003) created an autobiographical assignment that asks students to explore their own personal histories and “are encouraged to comment on their own social production, exploring how their own families achieved and are achieving what is commonly understood as respectability” (p. 60). The purpose of this lesson is to get students to think about their own privileges or disadvantages in society and ponder why one group is more advantaged than others.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Where is systemic racism present?

a. Healthcare

b. Education

c. Workforce

d. All of the above

2. Why is anti-racist teaching important?

a. It teaches students to hate America

b. It leads white students to feel bad for all of the racist acts done in the past

c. It creates a meaningful experience for all students

d. To make students uncomfortable