(Un)Critical Geographies of Race: A Critical Race Discourse Analysis of an Online Local History Resource

• In Event: The Educational Possibilities of Truth-Telling: Dismantling Dominant Narratives of Race, Place, and Histories

Abstract

Websites that document local history represent powerful curricular possibilities for K-12 history teachers. The extent to which, however, such resources furnish explicitly racialized interpretations of place often determines how educators and students can use them. In this critical race discourse analysis, we examined the function of race in Wacohistory.org, a local history website comprised of 200 entries. Drawing on critical geographies of race as our theoretical lens, we found that the website de-racialized Waco’s geography and ultimately overlooked how racial power has historically shaped placed-based access and experiences for residents. This study’s implications are much bigger than Waco and speak to racializing (online) history curricula and making presently race-evasive spatial histories more race-conscious to support meaningful local historical inquiry.

Authors

• ArCasia D. James-Gallaway, Texas A&M University

• Chaddrick James-Gallaway, Texas A&M University

• Neil Shanks, Texas A&M University

• Sabryna Groves, Texas A&M University