“Given the current problems in education, it is Black history that provides a roadmap on how to elevate teaching and learning today. This very notion is captured in The Magnitude of Us, in which Dr. Bunch lays out a practical pedagogical framework grounded in ancestral knowledge that moves toward four central areas of centering histories, unlearning, stories, and healing. This book provides resources, culturally relevant lesson plans, and provocative reflective questions that will (re)orient educators toward the powerful lessons of the past.”
—Gholnecsar (Gholdy) Muhammad, associate professor of literacy, language, and culture, University of Illinois Chicago
“Bunch’s un/HUSH framework can help all educators be guided by the voices of past educators. History, stories, unlearning, and healing empower children and sustain them in learning unimpeded, giving them the encouragement to be deeply involved in their own education and learning.”
—From the Foreword by Joyce A. Ladner, civil rights activist, educator, and author
“I learned early what it meant to be misunderstood and miseducated; this is why I looked to teachers for guidance. I am confident that my experiences in Dr. Bunch’s classroom have shaped me into the curious and knowledgeable woman I strive to be. I believe this book will help create similar experiences for students across the world and help shape the future of our educators.”
—Xyanne Purnell, former student
“Unlearning the H.U.S.H. means moving, through pedagogy and instructional planning, toward the deepest elements of education: compassion, self-reflection, perspective-taking, critical analysis. It means challenging assumptions and positionalities. And it means believing in the power of story to make a difference, to sew the first patch in a quilt of awakened understanding."
—Brittany Collins, educator and author of Learning from Loss
“The Magnitude of Us is a masterful text that brings to light once-marginalized stories of the past to inspire our work in classrooms. Magisterially written and replete with resources and inspiring histories, Dr. Marlee Bunch weaves a rich tapestry of struggle, celebration, and inspiration that few scholars can achieve in a book that promises to improve our praxis."
—Jon Hale, associate professor of education policy, organization, and leadership, University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign
“Dr. Bunch’s framework and guide provides important and critical ways for educators and students to delve into processes of unlearning the silences of those who have been historically marginalized. This is an important step toward corrective action for culturally responsive and sustaining pedagogies, and applicable across the K–12 spectrum.”
—Yoon Pak, professor and head of education policy, organization, and leadership, University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign
“Dr. Bunch’s un/HUSH framework is a wellspring of inspiration for educators. Her research, pedagogical framework, and reflection questions are powerful tools to help in-service and pre-service teachers examine their positionality and apply an equity lens to their lesson planning. Lessons from the past guide the way to create empowering learning environments for students in K–12 and higher education. Activities centering storytelling and healing motivate and sustain educators in the critical work of maximizing cultural responsiveness in their classrooms and communities.”
—Carol Berner, lecturer, Department of Education and Child Study, Smith College
