Learning to Teach, Teaching to Liberate: Black Teachers and the RE-construction of a Liberatory Pedagogy

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Saturday 1:45 pm - Gold 3
  In Roundtable Session: Learning to Teach, Teaching to Liberate: Black Teachers and Pedagogical Freedom

Abstract

The Black teaching tradition has long been a source of inspiration and education for Black students. Comprised of characteristics such as compassion, racial identity, and socio-political consciousness, we ask, is the Black teaching tradition still present in predominantly Black educational spaces today? In a project funded by The Black Teacher Collaborative (BTC), we sought to determine the degree to which aspects of the Black teaching tradition show up in predominantly Black K-12 classrooms. By interviewing Black teachers about their perceived pedagogical and professional learning needs and observing their classroom practice, the ultimate goal of this study is to construct innovative programs and practices to assist Black teachers in the education and liberation of Black children in an anti-Black world.

Authors

• E. Anthony Muhammad, Georgia Southern University

• Sheena N. Odom, Muscogee County School District

• Lastasia Ramsey, Georgia Southern University

• Ashley Griffin Gilchrist, Bowie State University