What is Antiracism in Education?
Before we delve into the resources, let’s first define the term antiracism. Antiracism is a concept that challenges racism in all its forms, and promotes racial equity and justice.
Antiracism in education means creating learning environments that respect and value the diversity, dignity, and potential of all students. It empowers students to challenge the societal structures that perpetuate racism, and encourages them to advocate for equity and respect for themselves and others.
8 of the Best Antiracism Resources for Educators
You may wonder how to best promote antiracism in your classroom and what you can do to create an inclusive space for all. Here’s a curated a selection of the most impactful resources available to support you:
1. NEA’s EdJustice
The National Education Association’s EdJustice is a community of activists working for justice in public education. Edjustice mobilizes educators to advocate for the rights of all students, and provides toolkits to help you address issues such as immigration, LGBTQ+ rights, and racial justice in the classroom.
Their website is a great way to stay updated on the latest news and events related to antiracism in the classroom. It features articles, podcasts, and newsletters covering equity, diversity, inclusion, and activism.
2. PBS Virtual Professional Learning Series: Tools for Anti-Racist Teaching
This eight-part video series explores the intersection of racism, education, mental health, and history. It provides educators with tools to create immediate and positive change.
The series explores the role of the media in our understanding of race and racism, how to stand up to injustice, and how to promote an anti-racist environment in your classroom.
3. TeachableMoment
The Morningside Center for Teaching and Social Responsibility is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting social and emotional learning (SEL).One of their projects, TeachableMoment, was created after 9/11 for teachers who were looking for ways to discuss the attack with their students. It has now expanded to cover over 50 different topics related to current issues.
4. Teaching for Change
Teaching for Change is committed to social justice education, providing resources to empower classrooms to challenge inequality, encourage critical thinking, and promote equitable environments. Their mission focuses on offering strategies that encourage students to think critically about social issues.
The org offers carefully curated reading lists, lessons, and virtual workshops focused on antiracist and social justice teaching. Resources on topics such as Black Lives Matter, Teaching Central America, Challenging Islamophobia, Civil Rights Teaching, and Anti-Bias Education are particularly interesting for educators.
5. Zinn Education Project
The Zinn Education Project is an initiative that provides resources for educators to teach a more complete history of the United States. Named after historian Howard Zinn, the project offers teaching materials and lessons that highlight the experiences of marginalized communities, helping students engage more critically with their history curriculum.
6. Teaching While White Podcast
In the United States, 80% of teachers are white. What's often overlooked is the profound impact of this within classrooms. The "Teaching While White" podcast explores vital conversations on race and equity in education - offering insightful perspectives, stories, and strategies to help teachers navigate issues of racial bias in the classroom.
7. MindShift by KQED
MindShift is an educational podcast and blog created by KQED, a public media outlet in the San Francisco Bay Area. It focuses on exploring the future of learning and how modern developments in psychology, neuroscience, and education are influencing teaching and learning methods. MindShift offers materials for educators, parents, and learners to adapt to the changing landscape of education.
8. Harvard’s Project Implicit
Harvard's Project Implicit is an online platform that hosts the Implicit Association Test (IAT), a tool that measures unconscious or implicit biases that individuals may hold towards various social groups, characteristics, or concepts. The IAT aims to uncover biases that people might not be aware of or may not openly express. Participants taking the test are asked to categorize different words or images associated with certain social groups or concepts, revealing potential implicit biases based on their responses.
The project covers a wide range of implicit biases, including those related to race, gender, sexuality, disability, and more. It offers individuals the opportunity to explore their implicit biases in a non-threatening environment, encouraging self-reflection and awareness of unconscious attitudes and beliefs. It’s a great resource for educators to explore their own biases and reflect upon how these may affect their teaching environment.
Educators like yourself play a pivotal role in fostering equitable learning environments and nurturing a generation of socially conscious, antiracist individuals. All of these resources can help. Let’s get to work!
