The Persistence of Whiteness and Anti-Blackness in School-Based Family Engagement Groups

• In Event: Supporting or Challenging Families Engagement With Schools

Abstract

We examine the way white supremacy, whiteness, and anti-Blackness interrupt a charter school’s attempts to create a parent and caregiver group that centered equitable collaboration. We use participatory action research methods to conduct interviews and use observations to capture what whiteness and anti-Blackness look and feel like according to parents and caregivers. The school leader’s perspective on equity-centered parent engagement also play a significant role in the role of whiteness and anti-Blackness within the group. Analysis involved Okun’s (2010) characteristics of white supremacy in organizations.

Authors

• Tiffanie Celeste Lewis-Durham, University of North Carolina - Greensboro

• Arianna Di Puorto, University of North Carolina - Greensboro

• Silvia C. Bettez, University of North Carolina - Greensboro