Teaching Black Students

Learning Targets

By the end of this lesson, college students will be able to:

1. Explain how Black teachers support Black students' academic success and sense of belonging

2. Describe how Black student activism has shaped school and college environments

3. Identify inclusive classroom practices that foster cultural connection and belonging.

Image section

This image represents the cultural connection that Black teachers can bring to the classroom. Their presence can support student identity, belonging, and academic achievement.

Anticipatory Set: Why Does Representation Matter in Education?

Imagine being in a classroom where no one looks like you, understands your culture, or teachers in a way that relates to your experiences. Would you feel like you belong? Would you feel motivated to succeed?

This lesson explores the impact of representation in school. Specifically, through Black teachers, student activism, and inclusive practices, and how these elements shape the educational experience for Black students.

Concept Overview: Representation and Inclusion in Education

Why are Black teachers important for Black student achievement?

Research shows that Black teachers play a crucial role in the academic and emotional success of Black students. According to Foster (2004), the loss of Black teachers after desegregation weakened the cultural support system for Black students. Carrol (2017) highlighted how Black women teachers today create lessons that connect with their students' real lives, increasing relevance and engagement. Representation helps students feel seen supported, and motivated.

How has Black student activism shaped education?

Black student activism has long pushed institutions to be more inclusive and equitable. In the 1960's and 70's, students formed Black Student Unions to advocate for recognition and resources (Williamson, 1999). More recently, protest like those are the University of Missouri (Shonekan, 2017) show how student voices continue to challenge systemic racism and inspire change. Activism creates awareness and drives institutional reform.

What classroom practices support cultural connection and inclusion?

Culturally inclusive classrooms prioritize student identity and open conversation. Weinzimmer and Bergdahl (2018) found that structured dialogues about race help students better understand each other and social issues. Carrol (2017) emphasized how Black teachers design culturally relevant lessons, fostering student engagement. These practices help all students feel respected and motivated to learn.

Example in Action: Culturally Responsive Teaching

Imagine a high school English class where students read both Shakespeare and modern African-American authors like Ta-Nehisi Coates. The teacher invited students to compare themes of justice across cultures. This kind of lesson validates student identity while promoting critical thing, a core feature of culturally responsive education.

Lesson Closure

Representation matters. When Black teachers are in the classroom, when students speak out for justice, and when educators use culturally responsive strategies, schools become more inclusive and effective. As future educators, recognizing the importance of culture and activism can help us build classrooms where every student feels they belong and can succeed.

References

Carrol, S. A. (2017). Perspectives of 21st century Black women English teachers on impacting Black student achievement. The Journal of Negro Education, 86(2), 115–137. https://doi.org/10.7709/jnegroeducation.86.2.0115

Foster, M. (2004). Black teachers, Black students, Black communities, and Brown: Perspectives and insights from experts. The Journal of Negro Education, 73(3), 285–297. https://www.jstor.org/stable/4129612

Shonekan, S. (2017). “We people who are darker than blue”: Black studies and the Mizzou movement. The Journal of Negro Education, 86(3), 399–404. https://doi.org/10.7709/jnegroeducation.86.3.0399

Weinzimmer, J., & Bergdahl, J. (2018). The value of dialogue groups for teaching race and ethnicity. Teaching Sociology, 46(3), 225–236. https://doi.org/10.1177/0092055X18767721

Williamson, J. A. (1999). In defense of themselves: The Black students’ struggle for success and recognition at predominantly White colleges and universities. The Journal of Negro Education, 68(1), 92–105. https://doi.org/10.2307/2668212

How I Used AI

1. I used ChatGPT to help me convert my original paper into a structured digital lesson. The AI helped organize my content into clear sections such as learning targets, the closure activity, and multiple-choice questions. I also used it to create and refine images that visually supported the lesson's key ideas.

2. Using AI made the assignment less stressful and more efficient. It simplified the process of turning my research into an engaging, teachable format and helped my better understand how to structure educational content for my peers.

3. I view AI as a supportive tool that can enhance learning and creativity when used responsibly. My personal policy is to use AI for organization, editing, etc.

Reflection:

Using AI made this assignment less stressful. It helped me understand how to present my research in a more engaging and teachable format. The process felt smoother, and I gained a better grasp of how to structure educational content for my peers.