by Christopher Grabau, Instructional Developer, Reinert Center
“The only way to undo racism is to consistently identify it and describe it–and then dismantle it.” –Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, How to Be an Antiracist (2019)
As a part of our ongoing commitment to providing equitable and inclusive educational structures for teaching and learning, the Reinert Center has created a brief resource guide devoted to anti-racist pedagogy.
Generally speaking, anti-racist pedagogy incorporates reflective practices and dialogue in order to address and eliminate social oppression within (and outside) the classroom. An anti-racist pedagogical approach aligns well with the Ignatian Pedagogical Paradigm (link) by (1) making visible systemic oppression, moving beyond a narrow focus on individual and interpersonal prejudgement through reflection; (2) showing the contexts of how whiteness confers unearned privilege and is complicit in keeping systemic and structural racism in place and must therefore be confronted and dismantled; and (3) offers strategies, experiences, and actions to transform structural iniquities that are central to anti-racist moral education. (Lynch, Swartz, & Isaacs, 2017)
An important first step to addressing anti-racist pedagogical practices is to establish your own process for self-reflection and learning. Therefore, this guide offers a few places to help you get started. Pick any one of the resources listed. While reading, consider some of the racial trauma students bring into the classroom. Your self-reflection may offer a way to think broadly about anti-racism, and its value within the classroom and course design, and, your role in helping develop a more equitable and just community.
Click here to see the full list
While the list is far from comprehensive, I hope the resources can serve as both a reflection for personal growth and a starting point to help you think about how best to incorporate anti-racist pedagogical practices into your teaching. If you would like to discuss how you may incorporate anti-racist pedagogical practices into your teaching, please feel free to contact the Reinert Center for a confidential teaching consultation [link].
The Notebook 