Christopher Emdin

This book was my first introduction to the critical race theory mindset.  I found the book suspect and illuminating.  Suspect in how it characterized black students as being colonized and white teachers as colonizers.  Illuminating that there are people out there who celebrate being oppressed.  When I first read the book, I didn't realize that in a few years that this mindset would go from cringe and fringe to mainstream.  I recommend reading this book to better understand, while not agreeing, the growing perception of the black student's experience. … (mehr)

Sorry for the delay.

As a "white folk" who formerly taught in the "hood," I can attest to the presence of many of the issues that Emdin addresses. There is much of merit in this book, not the least of which is the idea that differences between teachers and students cannot remain unspoken. Additionally, the "culture" of a teacher cannot and should not subsume the "culture" of a student. The way that I would sum up this book is with an axiom that I used to live by: when a teacher and a student are coming from backgrounds that are mutually exclusive, the teacher has the responsibility to step into (understand) the student's world first before s/he can expect the student to step into his or hers.… (mehr)