"We Ain't New to this, We True to This": Teaching Democracy and Citizenship: Through Black Educator Oral and Life Histories.

• In Event: Learning from Educators who have used the Profession as an Act of Resistance

Abstract

Amid a politically charged climate, social studies educators face increasing pressure to conform to restrictive, white-centric curricula, limiting diverse perspectives and marginalizing students of color. Legislative and societal forces have contributed to a civic education gap, leaving students—especially students of color—civically estranged from their lived experiences. Despite alignment with the NCSS C3 Framework, key elements like inquiry and civic action face resistance. This paper proposes two pedagogical strategies: using oral and life histories as counternarratives and centering Black experiences to reframe civic identity. Highlighting the life of Southern Black educator Xanthene Norris, the paper illustrates how Black teachers have historically nurtured civic agency, offering critical tools for reconnecting students to democratic participation amid cultural and political unrest.

Author

• Brandon J. Beck, Univeristy of Maryland Baltimore County