Democracy in the Break: A Riff in Support of the Movement for Black Lives

• In Event: Black Lives Matter in U.S. Schools: Race, Education, and Resistance

Abstract

Beginning with Eddie Glaude Jr’s thoughts echoed from DuBois to King, the author carefully considers how white supremacy holds democracy hostage. The author questions educators’ propensity for teaching about democracy from the perspective of its ideals rather than from the perspective of those on the outside trying to gain access. Democracy in the break represents the perspective of those living the afterlife of slavery and the practices they leverage to endure and engage in pursuit of a more just “democracy.” The author discusses the practices of re-membering in the face of disremembering, dynamic protest in the face of legitimized protest, and building towards the commons-not-yet in the face of coalitions by interest convergence. Finally, this paper ends with a call, realizing that the struggle is ongoing by questioning: As the struggle continues, and as we continue toiling in a field (of education) that has absolutely lassoed the pursuit of justice to democratic ideals, when might we learn/teach by way of democracy in the break, already broken, and breaking still?

Author

• Denise M. Taliaferro Baszile, Wayne State University
  Presenting Author