Looking Back to Look Forward: Applying Sankofa to the Teaching of Black Los Angeles

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Thursday 7:45 am
  In Roundtable Session: Remembering and Reimagining Black Communities and the Role of Black Education in the Pursuit of Educational Justice and Renewal

Abstract

Using Los Angeles as the focus this study used the African concept of sankofa which means go back and get what was lost as a guiding framework and motivation to recover and then teach the narratives of Black leaders who have shaped the history of Los Angeles and hence the United States. , preservice teachers learned archival research methods and then designed culturally affirming instruction on the experiences of Black people. This examination found that the integration of artifacts supports innovative instructional approaches such as place-based pedagogy and plactica were effective in teaching poignant such as slavery, segregation and settler colonialism. The findings from this study demonstrate effective ways that archival engagement can support effective teaching of all minoritized students.

Authors

• Stephanie Renee Anckle, City of Long Beach

• Mia Glionna, Cerritos College