#USvsHate: The Power and Pitfalls of Using an "Anti-Hate" On-Ramp for K–12 Antiracism Today

• In Event: Hate, Partisanship, Silence, and Violence

Abstract

#USvsHate (“us versus hate”) is a collective initiative to unleash “anti-hate” lessons and youth-made messaging in U.S. schools. #USvsHate was designed and piloted by the authors through participatory design research with educators/students in San Diego (2017-19), then piloted nationally by Teaching Tolerance (2019-20). Here, we explore the pros/cons of using an “anti-hate” frame as an onramp to K12 work against bias, injustice, and racism particularly, in an era of emboldened bigotry. By “onramp,” we mean a structured invitation to enter collective efforts, starting where people are. As project designers committed to antiracism, we had specific hopes and worries regarding the “anti-hate” “onramp.” We share initial student “anti-hate” messages and participant commentary as first data on project outcomes.

Authors

• Mica Pollock, University of California - San Diego

• Mariko Yoshisato Cavey, Johns Hopkins University