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.