ANTI-RACIST PRACTICE

The final section of this resource guide introduces anti-racist thought and practice within education and broader society. "Anti-Racist Practice" has seven sections laid out below to work through and adapt with your student organization.

1. What is Anti-Racism?

"What Does It Mean to Be an Anti-racist?"

Click on the title above to read the National League of City's discussion on being anti-racist.
Questions for individual reflection and group dialogue:
- How does this description of anti-racism compare with your definition of anti-racism?
- What do you believe to be the most critical aspects of being an anti-racist?

2. "Precious Knowledge"

"Precious Knowledge"

Click on the title above to watch the 2011 documentary, Precious Knowledge. You will need to log in with institution affiliation to access this film. The trailer is below.
Questions for individual reflection and group dialogue:
- Discuss your initial reactions. What moments stood out?
- How do you see racial opportunity gaps influencing the education of the young people in the documentary?
- How do systems of oppression work in favor of the Arizona state legislators?
- What elements of the Raza Studies program led to the formation of community? How do individuals strengthen community?
- How does the Raza Studies program push against racist school curriculum? How does the Raza Studies program strive to maintain an anti-racist curriculum?

3. Roses in Concrete Continued

"Growing Roses in Concrete"

Watch the TEDx Talk, "Growing Roses in Concrete," below by Jeff Duncan-Andrade.
Questions for individual reflection and group dialogue:
- How can Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs inform education reform?
- Why is long term commitment and sustainability crucial for community action and social change?
- Why is it critical to learn from community members before tackling change efforts?

4. The Whole Person

"Teaching the Whole Student"

Click the PDF above to read David Schoem's introduction to Teaching the Whole Student.
Questions for individual reflection and group dialogue:
- How does the idea of “teaching the whole student” relate to community engagement?
- How can “engaged learning” impact community engagement practices?
- What is asset framing? Why is asset framing crucial to effective and sustainable community engagement?

5. "Ratchetdemic"

"Teaching and Being Ratchetdemic"

Watch the TEDx Talk, "Teaching and Being Ratchetdemic," below by Christopher Emdin. For further related content, check out his book For White Folks Who Teach in the Hood... and the Rest of Y'all Too.
Questions for individual reflection and group dialogue:
- What is the power of “come as you are and be brilliant as you are” (12:05)? How does recognizing different forms of brilliance expand social change?
- How do you define “ratchetdemic”?
- What leads to mutual exclusivity between types of behavior and certain environments?
- Are there examples of mutual exclusivity you hold in your life? How does this impact your community engagement work?

6. Critical Consciousness

"Pedagogy of the Oppressed"

Click on the PDF above to read the preface of Paulo Freire's Pedagogy of the Oppressed.
Questions for individual reflection and group dialogue:
- What is critical consciousness? How can it be a part of your everyday experience and your community engagement practice?
- How does the subjective (e.g. “ontological vocation, love, dialogue, hope, humility, and sympathy” pg. 37) make space for dialogue?
- Freire says that “radicalization criticizes and thereby liberates” (pg. 37). How does critical thinking become the societal norm? How wide-spread does critical thinking need to be to enact liberation?

7. Love and Social Justice

"Teaching for Social Justice and Community Empowerment"

Click on the PDF above to read Jorge López's chapter in Why We Teach Now, "Teaching for Social Justice and Community Empowerment." Focus specifically on the section titled "Teaching for Humanization" (pg. 180).
Questions for individual reflection and group dialogue:
- What makes love “revolutionary”?
- How can community action spark greater change?
- What steps can you take to ensure that you're engaging with communities using love and critical consciousness?