Books
Between the World and Me, by Ta-Nehisi Coates
“In a letter to his son, Ta-Nehisi Coates gives us true and beautiful, yet deeply painful, words. He gives us a powerful framework of U.S. history and its endless wheel of racism. He describes what it means to live in a country where Black bodies are under continuous threat and where ‘no one is held responsible.’ Through his incredibly raw words, Coates reminds me that I get to do better as an educator. I have the opportunity to transform the perceptions future generations have about our world.” —Educator Chelsea E. Gilbert
Culturally Responsive Teaching and The Brain, by Zaretta Hammond
“[This book] has helped shift my thinking on how to better incorporate culturally responsive teaching in the classroom to meet the needs of all of my students and build rigor in their learning. I found that this book helps to make practical changes in your classroom that would support students in becoming independent learners.” —Teacher Keenan Lee
“In Culturally Responsive Teaching and The Brain, Hammond explains how traditional methods of instruction are based on the dominant culture’s perception of education. These methods contribute to the achievement gap as well as limit the cognitive development of underrepresented groups, specifically ELL and students of color. Hammond weaves the importance of understanding how one’s culture influences their cognitive learning process. Applying neuroscience research, Hammond identifies key instructional strategies that support the growth mindset of culturally responsive teaching practitioners.” —Teacher Michelle Ellis
Everyday Antiracism: Getting Real About Race in School, by Mica Pollock
“This book is a fantastic tool to use when committing to anti-racist and equitable practices in education. Each section contains several short essays on various education subjects that are easily digestible and great for discussion within a team. The book is filled with powerful strategies and practices you can easily implement in your class or school that can help you best serve all students.” —Teacher Amanda Doyle
For White Folks Who Teach in the Hood… and the Rest of Y’all Too: Reality Pedagogy and Urban Education, by Christopher Emdin
“After reading this, my entire perspective on classroom management has changed. The examples Emdin used could have been taken from my own experiences in the classroom. From now on, instead of enforcing draconian ‘law and order,’ I will take active steps to empower my students to use their voices as opposed to forcing them to conform and erase who they are.” —Teacher Alex Vicchio
How To Be An Antiracist, by Ibram X. Kendi
“After reading this resource, I realized that being an antiracist is not a certificate on a wall or a certain number of books in my room. Being antiracist is a journey of learning, questioning and reflecting on my experiences and implicit biases. Most importantly I have to confront and commit to change racist policies in my classroom, school, district, etc., to do the work of an antiracist.” —Teacher Megan Parker
Linguistic Justice: Black Language, Literacy, Identity, and Pedagogy, by April Baker-Bell
“‘Linguistic Justice’ made me more cognizant of the linguistic hegemony in our country that seeps into our educational systems. It was a powerful reminder to continue critically analyzing theories, practices and policies that perpetuate linguistic racism in schools.” —Educator Claribel González
Pushout: The Criminalization of Black Girls in Schools, by Monique W. Morris
“Black girls are often left out of the conversation about criminalization. Pushout examines the harsh realities that young Black girls face when they are pushed out of school and also provides several solutions to gain trust and build relationships.” —Educator Cierra Nickerson
We Got This: Equity, Access, and the Quest to Be Who Our Students Need Us to Be, by Cornelius Minor
“Cornelius Minor facilitated my introduction to his book We Got This during a teacher leadership institute here in Arizona. The book makes equity work feel achievable with a clear framework of suggestions for implementing change, such as trying something new for five days and reflecting on its impact. It helps you to focus on what matters most in your classroom.” —Teacher Erica Davis
We Want to Do More Than Survive: Abolitionist Teaching and the Pursuit of Educational Freedom, by Bettina L. Love
“This book has been an awakening on many levels. Envisioning educational justice through abolitionist teaching has completely inspired my approach in the classroom.” —Educator Mary DiPaola
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