Root Shock and Bridges to a Redemptive, Roots-Conscious Imaginary in Education

• In Event: Living This Bridge Called Our Backs: An Intergenerational Dialogue by Women of Color

Abstract

Critically conscious teachers begins with authentic, caring, social justice humans who address “root shock” experienced by our children/youth (Valenzuela et al., 2015). Root shock is the “traumatic stress reaction to the destruction of all or part of one’s emotional ecosystem” (Fullilove & Peterson (2009), p.11). This paper details how the pedagogical work of a community-based organization, Nuestro Grupo responds to trauma our children, families, and teachers have experienced given the Trump election and ensuing Senate Bill 4, Texas’ racist and anti-immigrant “show-me-your-papers” law. The psychologically redemptive role of indigenous co-constructed Danza Mexica (Aztec ceremony) offered by Nuestro Grupo is highlighted as an example of Moraga & Anzaldua’s call for redemptive and transformative education in times of crisis.

Author

• Angela Valenzuela, The University of Texas - Austin