Social Justice: Urban Education
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Influential Texts
Young, Iris Marion. Justice and the Politics of Difference. Princeton Univ. Pr., 1990.
This was the first book I read as my journey progressed through the Social Justice program, here at Hamline University. In the book, Iris Marion Young rejects the distributive paradigm in how justice is talked about and taught across our nation. She makes a compelling argument that we should be directing our focus toward power dynamics and oppression as a structural concept. Young attempts to show us a better approach to justice by talking about the injustice that so many of us face through her concept of the “Five Faces of Oppression.” They are Exploitation, Marginalization, Powerlessness, Violence, and Cultural Imperialism. Challenging the status quo of democracy in our nation; Young does an amazing job elaborating on the issues of systemic oppression of Brown and Black people while talking about the fact that we as a nation continues to spew and act upon White supremacist ideals
Lamar, Kendrick. “Alright.” To Pimp A Butterfly, Top Dawg Entertainment, 2015, track 7. https://music.apple.com/us/album/alright/1396073484?i=1396073491.
"Alright" is a song by rapper Kendrick Lamar, taken from his third album To Pimp A Butterfly. “Alright" has become the modern civil rights movement anthem. It is both a call to action and a reassurance that we as Black people can and will endure the evils of America. Kendrick speaks upon the struggles of men and women that look like me in today’s social climate. He also recognizes and talks about the hundreds of years of pain and struggle that has lead us here. Its chorus “Do you hear me, do you feel me? We gon’ be alright,” has been a rallying cry for protesters throughout America and even right here in the Twin Cities. After the Philando Castile case occurred here in the twin cities, it broke me inside because this case is something very prevalent to others similar to myself. We hear about famous police shootings similar to this case all the time. However, I never thought that this could happen to somebody that was from my neighborhood. Kendrick’s song helped many people of my same neighborhood, race, and intelligence cope with that case.
Emdin, Christopher. For White Folks Who Teach in the Hood ... and the Rest of Y'all Too: Reality Pedagogy and Urban Education. Beacon Pr, 2017.
Professor Christopher Emdin shares his background and experience working with predominantly students of color in urban communities. Mr. Edmin speaks on how the foundation of the public education system in America is built upon racist and classist ideals and that we all need to be working together to not only dismantle this corrupt system but creating a new one that caters to all youths learning styles. Emdin shares his “5 C’s” for Reality Pedagogy, which are cogenrative dialogues, co teaching, cosmopolitanism, context, content. Edmin has strongly expressed that we have to change our relationships with our students if we want our public education system to change. That students are in fact our teachers and we must attempt to be engaged and learn from them if we want them to learn from us. This book has helped reshaped my view on education and I would encourage anyone that plans on working with students of color to check it out.
McGuire, Danielle L. At the Dark End of the Street: Black Women, Rape, and Resistance: a New History of the Civil Rights Movement from Rosa Parks to the Rise of Black Power. Knopf, 2011.
This terrifying but impactful book broke my heart the first time I read it. This book helped change the narrative that the Civil Rights Movement was fully lead and executed by men. This book shares the stories and struggles of women in the movement. McGuire explains that the Black women’s struggle against rape and other sexual violence all throughout the 19th and 20th century. Black women refused to allow white supremacy to shame them and keep them silent. Their actions struck a powerful blow to what we know as white supremacy. This book enlightened my knowledge on America’s history. I was forced to deepen my research in regards to my history as well as looking into the civil rights movement from a different perspective.
Tatum, Beverly Daniel. "Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?" and Other Conversations about the Development of Racial Identity. BasicBooks, 1997.
Psychologist Dr. Beverly Tatum wrote this amazing book on racism and youth in america. Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria includes chapters on Black racial identity development in childhood, adolescence, and adulthood, which I believe is extremely important and impactful in today’s social climate. This book highlights the problem that so many adults of all races are scared to speak with children about racism because they are fearful that it may cause unnecessary problems and afraid that they will make “colorblind” children aware of what’s actually going on around them. The book breaks down race in a way that's intellectually honest and impactful for youth and adults. The fact that the book not only talks about the race and identity of young Black people, but it also talks about the identities of other people of color and white people is very insightful and important in my eyes.
X., MALCOLM, and ALEX HALEY. Malcolm x: the Autobiography of Malcolm x. BALLANTINE Books, 1965
This amazing book tells the story of the great Malcolm X’s journey, from growing up without a father due to him being murdered by the KKK, to turning into a gangbanger who spends time in prison, to him transitioning into one of the most powerful and impactful civil rights activist’s and Muslim ministers that America has ever seen. I believe this book opened many people's eyes to see how racism in our country works and affects African Americans. Racism isn’t just lynch mobs or use of hateful derogatory words. Systematic and institutionalized racism is just as hurtful and powerful. This book has shown me that Malcolm was a fighter. Throughout his life he continued to fight for what he felt was just and grow into a better person than he was the previous day. He was unafraid to challenge the ideas that he was taught to believe in. He is a living testimony that anybody can rise above even our deepest convictions to become better people and I think that’s the beauty of social justice. Your past doesn't define you, the actions you portray today and tomorrow is what really counts.
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