I would say that the antiracist moment is like surgery. Up to a point, it is a worthy endeavor – but not too far. Tracing the history of racism in the West and, as Ibram X. Kendi writes in the introduction to one of his books, understanding the history and origins of racist ideas inContinue reading “Can we Pivot Fast Enough?”
Author Archives: Seahurst Wellness and Education Center
Cognitive Diversity: Ibram X. Kendi Meets Thomas Sowell
We should be reading the work of Ibram X. Kendi right now. BUT… not exclusively, as if he’s the only Black expert on race. Black America is not a monolithic group, and so we should be very careful not to adopt his totalizing language as White people who read him with respect and a heartContinue reading “Cognitive Diversity: Ibram X. Kendi Meets Thomas Sowell”
Jaded Disembodiment: The Shadow Side of the Book White Fragility
I think that the book White Fragility (2018), written by Robin DiAngelo, is fabulous, but I am a little alarmed that people are reading it now as their introduction into this antiracist movement. The way we have discussions around topics of race and culture changes by the week, if not by the day, and theContinue reading “Jaded Disembodiment: The Shadow Side of the Book White Fragility”
A Policy Lens for Teaching Students about Racism
Several weeks ago a reader wrote me a question in regards to my pointers on teaching about race in the classroom: “Do you think it’s acceptable to incorporate anti-racist parts of our history with other events and people who, while maybe not anti-racist, were neutral on the matter? For example, teaching kids about the racismContinue reading “A Policy Lens for Teaching Students about Racism”
Ms. Rectenwald Retires
After many years teaching at Del Dayo Elementary School in Carmichael, California, my mom Betsy Rectenwald is retiring this year. The picture above features Mom, myself, and my late Grandma Cornelia, who was also a lifetime educator. Just as Mom learned from her mom, so I learned from her. A colleague wrote her of herContinue reading “Ms. Rectenwald Retires”
Pivoting Rather than Retreating in the Work
I’m not gonna lie. Today hurt real bad. I’ve been writing about anti-racism and anti-oppression work a long time, and have been an anti-racist practitioner in the classroom for longer. I’ve trained people in restorative justice. I’ve consulted with school districts, universities and businesses. I study a lot, break bread with multi-cultural communities and haveContinue reading “Pivoting Rather than Retreating in the Work”
Curriculum Violence
There was a classroom I was observing several months ago where the teacher showed a film on Black experience in Latin America and it actually featured people of African descent picking cotton. This was a painful moment for the African American students in the room, and it was unnoticed by the Latina teacher in theContinue reading “Curriculum Violence”
The Legacy COVID-19? Compassionate Educational Frameworks (Here’s Hoping!)
I have been thinking about one of the last schools where I taught and realizing: what teachers are going through now, is what many students go through on a daily basis. Lack of job security, lack of structure, lack of routine, lack of control. In some cases, lack of rent, and the threat of havingContinue reading “The Legacy COVID-19? Compassionate Educational Frameworks (Here’s Hoping!)”
Loving Brene…
What do I love about Brene Brown? She doesn’t believe in objectivity without the embracing of one’s subjectivity. I think that once we realize that we are embroiled in the controversial topics facing education today rather than casual – or formal – observers of them, we can begin to heal and transform the world. YouContinue reading “Loving Brene…”
Culturally Responsive? Or the White Racial Frame?
“Cultural responsiveness” is a term that gets thrown around a lot and I have to say that sometimes I wonder if this doesn’t come across as patronizing to people of culturally or socioeconomically diverse backgrounds. I feel like it might if we talk about cultural responsiveness only when it comes to interacting with people ofContinue reading “Culturally Responsive? Or the White Racial Frame?”
