Racial Literacy in Tech
WHAT IS RACIAL LITERACY IN TECH?
An intellectual understanding of how structural racism operates in algorithms, social media platforms, and technologies not yet developed
An emotional intelligence concerning how to resolve racially stressful situations within organizations
A commitment to take action to reduce harms to communities of color. (Daniels, Nknode, Mir, 2019)
How CS4All is Incorporating This Practice
CS4All promotes Racial Literacy (Stevenson, 2014) as method for examining, managing and resolving racially stressful encounters in the CS classroom and in culturally responsive lesson design. Support is provided to teachers in implementing the RECAST model of racial literacy through ongoing social emotional skills and conflict management training and a professional learning ecosystem.
The Recast Theory of Racial Literacy
Read: Intellectual Understanding
See, interpret, perceive when encounters are racial
Recast: Emotional Intelligence
Examine your stress responses to racial encounters and having a plan to manage that stress
Resolve: Action, Preparation & Planning
Having a choice in your engagement of racial encounters and being prepared to address those encounters which you choose to address.
Key Terms & Resources
Racial Literacy
The ability to read, recast and resolve racially stressful/discriminatory encounters through the use of cognitive behavioral techniques. (Stevenson, 2014)
Promoting Racial Literacy in Schools, Differences That Make a Difference by Howard C. Stevenson can be purchased from Teacher's College Press.
Racism Related Stress
“race-related transactions between individuals or groups and their environment that emerge from the dynamics of racism and that are perceived to tax or exceed existing individual and collective resources or threaten well-being” (Harrell, 2000)
Racial Socialization
The messages that parents and society communicate directly and indirectly to youth about racial hierarchy, bias, and discrimination.
Who We Are Learning From
Lloyd M. Talley (Ph.D.) is the Principal Consultant of DiversFYI consulting, a developmental psychologist, educational researcher and diversity trainer. Dr. Talley is an affiliate of the Racial Empowerment Collaborative at PennGSE, a research and training center which develops and implements behavioral interventions to improve families, youth, and organizational Racial Literacy. He is also the primary investigator and interventionist of the Teachers’ Empowerment, Networking, and Development (TEND) Program, a ten-session teacher empowerment, racial literacy, and professional development intervention for The NYC Department of Education through the New York City Men Teach initiative. As a diversity expert he has 12 years of experience in strategy and program design in diverse communities and fifteen years of teaching and training experience in culturally-relevant education and assessment in schools and communities.
