Education and Race(ism) in the Americas

Catalog description

"How humans relate to the concept of racism and racism’s material effects illustrate complexities in life, identity, and discourse that are as varied as the stories people tell. A rigorous analysis of racism and its effects in education demands exploration into these complexities as they emerge comparatively, across time, places, and peoples—with specific consideration for how consciousness aids naming and problematizing racism. It is also important to analyze individuals’ experiences of and ability to name racism both in the context of other social ills (e.g. poverty, misogyny) and the environments and modes of communication that make honest dialogue about race(ism) possible. Drawing on Lani Guinier’s concept of racial literacy, in this course we will develop shared language and test analytical tools to study racism and its effects in education. We will engage in analysis of our own experiences and those of educators across the Americas (Brazil, Panama, Honduras, Jamaica, the U.S. South, and New York City) as they/we have migrated to unfamiliar contexts. The semester will culminate in plans for action that address the intersections of education with race, racism, and being raced in the Americas. Topics include: Assessment, Language, Legal History, Capitalism, School Discipline, and Accessibility. “