
- #Courageous conversations about race how to#
- #Courageous conversations about race professional#
- #Courageous conversations about race series#
She confronted the data and asked if everyone believed that Black students were capable of learning and that if not, they could promptly leave the conversation. She made a statement in that meeting that I will never forget. I remember being amazed at this white woman (Allison) who was so willing to talk about race and so open about the racial disparity in achievement issues. What happened that day opened my eyes and revealed the possibility of finding solutions for this racial gap while exploring attitudes and experiences with a facilitator who was comfortable enough to open the door and create a space for open and honest dialogue.
#Courageous conversations about race professional#
I was invited to a city-wide professional development session to discuss racial achievement data through the lens of my professional experience as a counselor of gifted students. My first encounter with courageous and compassionate conversations about race happened in an educational setting. Reminiscing about first day – Over ten years ago We both walked into this professional learning conversation with our own frames of reference, what we hoped could come out of the meeting, and what we were willing to share. Frances was one of the invited guests to be in an inner circle of educators known for their exceptional and effective work with Black students. Ten years ago, Allison facilitated a meeting with approximately 100 divisional and site-based instructional specialists in Virginia Beach. Storytelling invites us to share our lived experiences so that we observe our commonalities and differences with compassion and without judgement. But white privilege means not having to endure the questioning and second guessing that comes from the color of your skin. Yes, everyone is born into different circumstances and we all have significant challenges we need to overcome. Without conversations that are civil yet courageous and compassionate, race relations will continue as status quo. Feeling like the “us”/”them” syndrome is pervasive and that the gap is widening.

At this point, many Black Americans are exhausted from the grief, the open bigotry and racism, and exhausted from trying to convince White people that racism is real and alive in our country. The generational and historical treatment of Black people in our country, since its inception, has led to marginalization and inequality. We move through the world differently from one another. She devotes her time to community service and to advocacy for equity and equality in classrooms everywhere. is a retired educator and school counselor with a passion for equity in education, high expectations and academic excellence for all students. The session was followed by a panel discussion with members of The BAMEed Network and drew on questions from the session participants online.By Frances Knight Thompson and Allison Zmudaįrances Knight Thompson, M.
#Courageous conversations about race how to#
Prof Miller gives us an overview of the issues to look out for, and outlines how to set firm foundations for success in leading your school towards being an anti-racist institution.

Professor Paul Miller is the leading researcher and thinker in the field of anti-racism, institutional and structural inequity in our educational leadership. And before this can happen, a courageous conversation about what we know, and what we don’t needs to happen, about the sites where institutional and structural racism dwells in schools. Before a strategy can be set, an audit and overview of the present situation needs to be undertaken.
#Courageous conversations about race series#
Engage with this series of events and online learning here.īefore embarking on a journey towards becoming an anti-racist institution, there is a strategy to formulate. This was the October event as part of our Courageous Conversations and Race series.
