Making Race Matter: Disrupting Educational Racial Color Blindness Through Antiracist Curriculum

• In Event: 31.061 - Culturally Relevant Curriculum

Abstract

The United States continues to be a highly racialized society. As a result, race remains a predictor of educational achievement for students in the P-12 public education system. Further, racial colorblindness continues to dominate educational institutions, as teachers--particularly white teachers--often feel uncomfortable and ill prepared to talk with students about race.
This research study investigated the practice of directly challenging the color-blind ideology in education with the implementation of anti-racist curriculum. Through a series of professional development sessions, a group of K-12 teachers each created curricular units focused on centering the topic of race. This case study research offers teachers’ insight into the process, the challenges, and rewards of the development and implementation of anti-racist curriculum.

Author

• Kelly Deits Cutler, Portland State University