Using evidence from the Scholarship of Teaching and Leaning (SoTL) as well as social psychology, we will briefly cover why resistance occurs on the part of our students and, more importantly, how we can effectively teach

about racism in the face of that resistance. Specifically, we will focus on both centering our students, by taking their resistance and emotions seriously, and decentering our students, by helping them to understand the broader system of racism that exists beyond their individual experience.

 

Specific teaching strategies, grounded in evidence and experience, will be shared, and discussed, including the use of affirmation and discussion to build community and trust while enhancing the understanding of systemic racism. Throughout, we will take seriously the ways in which White students and students of color are likely to experience learning about racism in different ways.