We Been Knowin: Black Women Teachers (Re)member That Our Language Is a Living Legacy

• In Event: Thursday Roundtable Session 10:50 am
  In Roundtable Session: #WeBeenKnowin: Learning From Black Women (Table 20)

Abstract

This transformative study explores the impact of (re)membering Black Language on Black Women Teachers (BWTs) through the Black Language Learning Series (BLLS). By centering Black Language as a living legacy, the research disrupts deficit narratives, empowering BWTs and fostering liberatory education for Black students. The BLLS empowers BWTs to (re)claim their cultural heritage, promoting agency and pride in their professional roles, resulting in transformative pedagogical practices for Black students. The study advances linguistic and educational scholarship, advocates for inclusive language instruction, and confronts linguistic violence in schools. Practical implications highlight integrating Black Language into curricula and teacher professional development, shaping transformative educational policy and practice.

Author

• Teaira C. McMurtry, University of Alabama - Birmingham