Student Voice, Social Justice, and Safe Spaces: An Online Literary Magazine for Urban Students

• In Event: Roundtable Session 49
  In Roundtable Session: Promoting Social Justice in Black Education

Abstract

In our ongoing quest to discover strategies to promote a social justice agenda within urban school systems and to help educators understand their role in this process, we believe it is essential to give voice to those affected by the policies and practices we employ. We asked students in grades 3-12 to think deeply about their personal convictions and reflect on their experiences as they develop their ideas around the concept of social justice. Findings suggest that youth understand very clearly issues related to equity and fairness, and they believe not only that there are individuals in their lives who work toward these ideals, but that they too have a very distinct role in becoming advocates for social change.

Authors

• Donna Marie Davis, University of Missouri - Kansas City

• Shirley Marie McCarther, University of Missouri - Kansas City