Anti-Blackness at School

While schools often are framed as places of neutrality and fairness, many American schools have harmed Black children or been silent in the face of their struggles, under-education, and mistreatment. While there are undoubtedly adults in these spaces who support Black children, many others ignore Black families, minimize students’ concerns, and believe that colorblindness will solve the problem of inequity in education. Embedded in everyday realities, the authors outline the many ways anti-Blackness shows up in schools. Drawing on more than 44 years of equity work, they provide concrete, doable, and meaningful ways in which teachers and administrators can create Black-affirming spaces. Written for pre- and in-service teachers and others working with Black children and youth, Anti-Blackness at School explores both the scope of anti-Blackness and how teachers can reject racism.

Book Features:

• Provides interracial perspectives from authors Joi Spencer, a Black woman from California, and Kerri Ullucci, a White woman from Rhode Island.
• Uses case studies, activities, lessons, and techniques to talk about anti-Blackness, inventory its presence, and take steps to address the harm caused by it.
• Calls out how school policies, programs, belief systems, and customs are particularly hostile to Black youth.
• Explains why diversity work is not synonymous with antiracist work, offering a model focused on justice and equity.
• Directs practitioners to easily accessible resources that will allow them to challenge racism and uplift Black youth in their care.

Joi Spencer is interim dean and professor of mathematics education in the School of Leadership and Education Sciences at the University of San Diego. Kerri Ullucci is an associate professor of education at Roger Williams University, Bristol, Rhode Island.