Race Matters: Panelist 1

• In Event: 58.041 - Race Matters: Teaching Diversity Beyond the Margins

Abstract

Panelist One
Panelist One is the coordinator of a Masters of Higher Education Leadership. The program emphasizes social justice with diversity and equity discussed in all courses. Panelist One develops curricula, advises students and teaches the core courses including Higher Education Equity. Panelist One will share her experience building a program emphasizing social justice and teaching a required equity course. Additionally, as a critical race feminist scholar, Panelist One will discuss how the intersection of race and gender factors in her facilitation of equity courses comprised primarily consisting of White students. In addition, to personal experiences, Panelist One can share findings from research on Black Female faculty: Enact, discard and transform: A Critical Race Feminist Perspective on Socialization Among Tenured Black Female Faculty (International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education); Restructuring the Masters Tools: Black Female and Latina Faculty Navigating and Contributing in Classrooms Through Oppositional Positions (Equity and Excellence in Education); and Intellectual Activism: The Praxis of Dr. Anna Julia Cooper as a Blue Print for Equity-Based Pedagogy (Feminist Teacher).

Identity in the Classroom. I really do not know how students perceive me. However, I am hyper aware of my Blackness above all other identities. I am also aware of color-ism and how my dark complexion and natural hair may lead to assumptions of my authenticity as a scholar. For this reason, I am very careful not to show any anger—I’m concerned about being labeled a loud and angry Black woman. I am strategically silent because I want students to feel like they will not be judged while understanding that they are accountable to their peers.

Author

• V. Thandi Sule, Oakland University