Teachers of Color: Resisting Racism and Reclaiming Education

Teachers of Color is a book that examines the experiences of teachers of color and the barriers they face in the education system. It provides insights into the toll of racism on their professional experiences and personal well-being, as well as their resistance and reimagination of schools. The book is based on in-depth interviews, digital narratives, and questionnaires and employs critical race theory to expose the ongoing racialization of the teaching force. It concludes with recommendations for education stakeholders to improve the racial climates of schools and support the growing diversity of the teaching force.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 200 pages
Publication date: 01 June 2021
Publisher: Harvard Educational Publishing Group

Teachers of Color is a groundbreaking book that delves deep into the pervasive impact of racism on the teaching force and provides invaluable tools for educators who identify as Black, Indigenous, or people of Color. Through extensive research, including in-depth interviews, digital narratives, and questionnaires, the book offers a comprehensive analysis of the toll that racism takes on their professional experiences, personal well-being, and resistance efforts.

The author, Rita Kohli, a teacher educator and educational researcher, sheds light on the hostile racial climate that teachers of color encounter throughout their academic and professional journeys. She highlights the challenges they face as students and preservice teachers, as well as the ongoing discrimination they encounter in their classrooms and schools. Kohli also underscores the resilience and creativity of these educators as they employ various tools of resistance to challenge institutionalized oppression and advocate for change.

Teachers of Color is analyzed through the lens of critical race theory, providing a rich and nuanced understanding of the ongoing racialization in education. Through counter-stories from thirty racially, geographically, and professionally diverse educators, the book exposes the ways in which racism manifests and perpetuates itself in schools. It also offers recommendations for education stakeholders to improve the racial climates of schools and support the growing diversity of the teaching force.

One of the key strengths of Teachers of Color is its ability to strengthen readers' racial literacies. The book provides a comprehensive framework for understanding the historical, social, and cultural factors that contribute to racial disparities in education. It challenges readers to examine their own biases and assumptions and encourages them to develop empathy and compassion for teachers of color. By better understanding the strengths, struggles, and power of these educators, readers can become more effective allies in the fight for equity and justice in education.

In conclusion, Teachers of Color is a must-read for educators, policymakers, and anyone interested in promoting diversity and equity in education. It offers a powerful account of the experiences of teachers of color and provides valuable insights and tools for addressing the systemic barriers that prevent them from thriving in the profession. By strengthening readers' racial literacies and advocating for change, this book contributes to the ongoing efforts to create more inclusive and equitable schools for all students.

Weight: 286g
Dimension: 153 x 228 x 13 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781682536377