Antiracist Teaching Principles for Educators

I’ve developed a set of antiracist principles for myself and the courses that I teach. These are principles that I use to guide my teaching and my actions, and internalizing them takes time. Becoming an antiracist teacher is a process, and one that takes time, learning, reflection, and work. This not something that any of us (including me) will do perfectly all the time, but here is are the principles we’re aspiring to.

30 Insightful Quotes on Racism and Racial Injustice From Activists

Examine your own identity and develop an understanding about how your own identify informs your values, actions, teaching philosophy, student interactions, and classroom management
Be open to and reflect on critical feedback from others. We all have racist thoughts and ideas (that’s part of living in a racist society). When others are critical of our racist thoughts, ideas, and actions, they are giving us a gift. That gift is the opportunity to reflect, learn, and grow as an antiracist educator.
Use an antiracist lens when examining educational rhetoric, policy, theory, learning standards, etc. When something is racist, identify it as such.
When a peer or colleague says or does something racist, identify it and call it out to them.
When speaking about students, families, and colleagues use asset-based language.
When creating and delivering educational content, include a broad perspective that goes beyond the narratives and theories of the White dominant culture.
Incorporate inclusive materials and examples across curriculum that include examples Queer, disabled/differently abled, and POC experiencing a full range of humanity, not only struggling/triumphing.
Utilize culturally responsive classroom management strategies.
Work to get to know your students and their home cultures in a meaningful way and use that knowledge to undertake culturally responsive teaching practices.
Avoid perpetuating stereotypes and inflicting curriculum violence through teaching that involves microaggressions, racialized role playing or trivializes the histories and/or experiences of Queer, disabled/differently abled, and POC.