Other Elephant in the (Class)room

Cheryl Matias is professor and director of secondary education at the University of Kentucky College of Education. Paul C. Gorski is the founder of the Equity Literacy Institute and author of Reaching and Teaching Students in Poverty: Strategies for Erasing the Opportunity Gap, Second Edition.

• Introduction by Cheryl Matias and Paul GorskiPart I: White Liberalism and the Illusion of Transformative Intent1. "Peel It Like an Onion": A Proactive Challenge to White Liberalism Inside a Progressive Teachers Union by Theresa Montaño and Betty ForresterIntroductionWhite Liberalism: Inside the Onion"It Can't Just Be About Racial Justice"White Liberalism, Racial Microaggressions, and Racial Battle FatiguePutting Race at the CenterRacial Justice Is Social Justice WorkYou Don't See Me: Womxn of Color Are Union Leaders!Sustaining Our Spirits With Action From White Liberalism to Racial Justice2. The End of Altruism: Moving From White Hero Discourse to Racial Justice Praxis by J.P.B. GeraldIntroductionAltruism and Conceptualizations of White HeroismAltruism as Obstacle to Racial JusticeFrom Altruism to Racial Justice PraxisConclusion3. Exposing the Other Elephant: White Liberal Discourses and the (Re)Production of Racism in K–12 Education by Lindsay Lyons and Cherie Bridges PatrickIntroductionFrom Deficit Narratives to Systemic ChangeWhite Liberalism in ActionDisproportionate Discipline and School LeadershipDisproportionate Discipline Beyond SchoolsMoving Toward Racial Justice4. How Toxic Positivity Prevents Equity for ESOL Students: Getting Uncomfortable for the Sake of Equity by Elisabeth Chan, Lavette Coney, and Heidi FaustIntroductionLanguage, Race, and ESOLUnderstanding Toxic Positivity and ELsScenariosConclusionPart II: White Liberalism in Diversity, Equity, Inclusiveness, and Belonging Efforts5. Colorblindness, White Paternalism, and the Limits of School Desegregation and Diversity Reform by Anna KushnerColorblindnessWhite PaternalismConclusion6. Deploying White Liberal Anti-Racism to Avoid Accountability: Racial Appropriation in Educational Leadership by Tracey A. BensonThe Initial Training: Planting the Seeds of DiscomfortCollective Derailment: The Characters of White "Liberal" FragilityTaking Responsibility: My Three Fundamental OversightsA Bitter End: Weaponizing White Fragility and Enacting White RageA Way Forward: Changing the ParadigmTruth and ReconciliationChapter 7. "We Aren't Going There Today!": Unpacking and Challenging White Liberalism, Racial Silence, and What Kids Are "Ready" for in the Early Childhood Classroom by Andréa C. Minkoff and Katherine WoodWhite Liberalism, White Fragility, and Racial SilenceWhite Liberal Racial Silencing in the Early Childhood ClassroomChallenging White Liberalism, Racial Silence, and What Kids Are "Ready" for in the Early Childhood ClassroomPart III: White Liberalism in Curriculum and Instruction8. White Teachers' Black Historical Consciousness: Can We Teach Black History? by Brianne Pitts, Daniel Tulino, and Gregory SimmonsCan "Good" White Liberals Teach Black History?Purpose and DefinitionsExamples in PracticeFrom BHM to BHCEnacting the BHC FrameworkConclusion9. Overpromising and Underdelivering: White Liberal Narratives in Arts Education by Alina Campana and Amelia M. KraeheA VignetteThe "Arts Teach Social-Emotional Skills Narrative""The Arts Bridge Differences" NarrativeRecommendations10. White Liberalism in the U.S. History Curriculum: Issues of Diversity and Accountability by Chris Seeger and Maria Gabriela PazIntroductionThe Diversity ProblemIndividual Versus Group RepresentationThe Privilege of IndividualityAvoiding AccountabilityTeaching US History Through a Racial Justice LensPart IV: White Liberalism in Popular Programs and Initiatives11. Liberalism to Liberation: Reimagining Montessori Education by Daisy Han and Katie KitchensIntroductionDr. Maria Montessori: The Hero, Legend, and RacistDemystifying the DeityThe White Liberal Montessori PracticeThe Montessori Approach to Social Emotional Learning: An Assimilationist Tool and Weapon to Silence DiscontentWhite SaviorismCo-opting Antiracism and Upholding White SupremacyWhat Is Liberation?Conclusion12. White Liberalism, Racism, and Restorative Justice by Crystena Parker-ShandalHow RJE Reproduces Racism Through White Liberal IdeologiesPrinciples to Guide Antiracist RJEMoving Forward With Authentic Efforts for Racial Justice Through Restorative Justice13. Seeing Systems: The Case for Systemically Trauma-Informed Practice Instead of White Saviorism by Debi Khasnabis, Simona Goldin, and Addison DuaneIntroductionUnderstanding Systems and Trauma-Informed PracticeWhite Liberalism and Trauma-Informed PracticeFrom Savior to SysTIPConclusion14. Interrupting the White Liberalism of Social Emotional Learning by Jennifer C. Dauphinais and Jenna Kamrass MorvayIntroductionLettersRecommendationsConclusion15. White Liberalism, Positive Behavior Supports, and Black, Indigenous, Students of Color: "We're Teaching Them to Do School" by Jeanne ConnellyWhiteness and White Liberalism in SchoolsCase Study: Culturally Responsive Practices and Positive Behavior SupportsTensions Between PBIS and Culturally Responsive Practices (CRPS)Transformative Practices: BISOCTransformative Opportunities in Disability Critical Race TheoryConclusionEndnotesIndexAbout the Editors and Contributors