Affirming Black Students' Lives and Literacies

Arlette Ingram Willis is a professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, division of Language and Literacy. Gwendolyn Thompson McMillon is professor of literacy and chair of the Department of Reading & Language Arts at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan. Patriann Smith is a professor of literacy studies at the University of South Florida.

• ContentsForeword Theresa Perry ixPreface xiAcknowledgments xxi1. Introduction: Theoretical Perspectives 1Black Epistemology, Ideology, and Theory 2Conceptual and Theoretical Foundations 2Conceptual Foundations: Moral Courage and Moral Licensing 4Theoretical Foundations: Black Liberation Theology, Black Radical Tradition, Critical Race Theory, and Decolonization 7Black Liberation Theology 8Black Feminism 10The Black Radical Tradition 12Critical Race Theory 13Decolonial Theories 15Reading Research and Black Students 162. Black Women Activist Teachers 19Literacy and Freedom 21Literacy and Civil Rights 35Literacy and Liberation 40Literacy and Justice: Black Independent Schools 45Our Teachers 50Conclusion 503. The Mis-Education of a High-Performing Black Girl 53Shawyn's Narrative: A Summary 53The Study 55Aesha 56Discussion 64Conclusion 67In Conversation 68Critical Discussion Questions 72Suggested Readings 734. Cultural Dissonance in a First-Grade Classroom 75Gwen's Narrative: A Summary 75Setting 76Tony 77Travis 80A Closer Look Inside Ms. Rudolph's First-Grade Classroom 83Conclusion 92In Conversation 93Critical Discussion Questions 99Suggested Readings 1005. Transcending (Dis)Belief: Black (Immigrant) Youth Literacies 101Patriann's Narrative: A Summary 101An Invitation From a Black Immigrant Educator 102Black Immigrant Educator Literacies 105Jorge: A Black Immigrant Latinx Youth 107Black American Youth Literacies 110Excerpts From Black American Youth 112Conclusion 118In Conversation 119Critical Discussion Questions 122Suggested Readings 1236. It's Never Too Late 125Arlette's Narrative: A Summary 126It Is Never Too Late . . . 126A Brief Backstory 127Meeting Clemente 129Twenty Years Later 132Perspective 134Conclusion 135In Conversation 136Critical Discussion Questions 139Suggested Readings 1407. Conceptual Framework: Toward a Standard of CARE 141Foundations 141Race and Culture 143Equity Pedagogies 146CARE 148References 159Index 175About the Authors 183

“ Affirming Black Students’ Lives & Literacies: Bearing Witness challenges readers to think aboutteaching Black students with intentionality, purpose, and first and foremost, love.”—Teachers College Record