Black Joy in Social Emotional Learning and Black History Instructional Practices

• In Event: The Unapologetic Love of Nuanced Black Joy: Our Relationships Sustain Us

Abstract

This comrade and co-presenter is an educational justice advocate and Black historian. His unapologetic love of nuanced Black joy stems from his journey to the education profession and his justice-oriented advocacy work. Upon dissatisfaction with the way corporations engage with equity and justice, he made a career switch and obtained his degree in counseling. Currently, he works in a large urban school district and directs portions of their Social Emotional Learning (SEL) program. His role serves teachers and students. He has organized “No Cap” sessions with students where they have the space to unpack, digest, and self-reflect on how societal oppression influences their mental health. In turn, opening students up to imagine their role in transforming systems. His work with teachers tasks them with co-creating curriculum and classroom procedures that sustain racially marginalized students’ cultures. He has created a collection of practitioner-based resources to help teachers do justice-oriented work. His relationship to Black joy comes from his work in connecting students with their already-present social critique and witnessing their creative actions that stem from their connection to critique. To him, Black joy stems from the instances where students and teachers demonstrate their connection to the ideas and resources he studies, provides, and teaches. He will share implications for joy in teaching Black history.

Author

• Omowale Crowder, Columbus City Schools
  Presenting Author