"The way you unlearn is by first acknowledging the privileges you have." - Kwame Sarfo-Mensah

Kwame is applying his dual-major Bachelor of Arts and Mathematics and Master of Education degrees from Temple University to the high calling of equipping educators with the tools to create culturally affirming classrooms where every student's identity is acknowledged and celebrated. His third book, Learning to Relearn: Supporting Identity in a Culturally Affirming Classroom, will be released on November 15th, 2024.

Kwame taught middle school math in Philadelphia and Boston before moving to Sierra Leone, where he currently serves as a global education consultant through his firm, Identity Talk Consulting, LLC. Over the last several years, he has also hosted the podcast Identity Talk 4 Educators LIVE.

Kwame explores the concept of identity, including personal and social identities, and how these can affect one's experience in the world. The conversation delves into the challenges of addressing identity in educational settings and the importance of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. Kwame shares his experiences and insights on the power of questions in navigating contract negotiations, understanding student backgrounds, and self-growth. The dialogue also touches on unlearning ingrained biases and recognizing privileges. The discussion concludes by reflecting on the role of questions in fostering a more inclusive and understanding society.

This Curated Questions episode can be found on all major platforms and at CuratedQuestions.com.

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Episode Notes:

[00:50] Meet Kwame Sarfo Mensah

[03:07] Understanding Identity

[08:24] The Power of Questions in Negotiations

[12:56] Navigating DEIA in Education

[24:09] Questions an Educator Asks to Know Their Classroom

[33:46] Unlearning and Self-Work

[37:43] Navigating Accessibility Challenges

[38:37] The Process of Unlearning Privilege

[40:21] Questions for Equity in Education

[42:33] The Role of Allyship and Humility

[46:08] Understanding Positionality and Power

[47:50] The Journey of Self-Knowledge

[50:30] Hope Amidst Social Challenges

[56:13] The Importance of Asking Questions

[01:02:20] International Perspectives on Identity

[01:08:28] Reflecting on Personal and Professional Impact

[01:11:09] Final Thoughts and Resources

Resources Mentioned

The Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paulo Freire

Nice Racism by Robin DiAngelo

Dr. Kimberlé Crenshaw

identitytalk4educators.com

Kwame Sarfo-Mensah on LinkedIn

Kwam_the_identity_shaper on Instagram

identityshaper on X

Beauty Pill

Producer Ben Ford

Questions Asked

What is your working definition of identity?

Why not keep this basic standard, teach it, and then recognize that variations from that perceived standard exist?

When did you first understand the power of questions?

What's your budget for professional development services at your school?

What were some of the amounts that were given? 

Will the school receive any grants in the coming months or even years?

Is it predominantly through trial and error that you got that experience?

Are there any other questions that you found helpful as you've done negotiations?

Does your school have a mission statement around diversity, equity, and inclusion?

Is there any living document or statement that supports this work?

What are some things that you've already done to initiate this line of work?

What do you say to clarify what D.E.I. is and is not?

Wouldn't it make sense to at least recognize them or do some school-wide activity where we provide information or give them a chance to express how much their traditions and faiths mean to them?

Why can't we give that same energy to folks who may not celebrate Christmas?

How can this be better as a result of you being here?

What kind of questions can educators use to understand the various identities within their classroom?

What does that process look like for understanding a classroom?

What traditions or customs do you practice in your family or culture?

How do the friends or the community around you influence your sense of self?

What languages do you speak?

What's something that's changed in your me bag?

What questions can we use to unlearn the narrative you are talking about?

Why do I believe what I believe about a certain group of people?

Where do these ideas come from?

Do they come from my schooling?

Do they come from the friends and people who are around me?

Do they come from my family?

What is the origin of my preconceived notions about a particular group of people?

What's the source of this information?

What agenda are they trying to fulfill by disseminating this information?

How does unlearning happen, or what are some steps or milestones along that path?

What does the unlearning process look like?

Have you come across or used any particular questions in your journey for fighting for others or advocating for others?

Does this policy negatively impact a specific subgroup of people over another based on how it's worded? If so, how can we amend that policy to ensure that this doesn't continue?

Are there particular stories that are not being told in these books?

Are there certain protagonists in these books that are not being seen or do not match the backgrounds of students in your class, whether from a racial, linguistic, or cultural standpoint?

What are some things that I am doing that make me complicit in perpetuating the discrimination that my students face?

Is this a situation where I decenter myself, or do I push in?

Do you want any help on this?

Why wasn't one single Palestinian American speaker invited to the DNC in Chicago?

If they're not giving us the answers, where can we find these answers to our questions?

How are you American?

How come you can't speak your language?

Where are you coming from?

What is your right now question?

Have I done enough as far as being present for both of my sons? 

Have I done enough as far as being a present partner for my wife?

Have I done enough self-work to be the best human I can be to my family and my loved ones? 

Have I done enough professionally  to feel good or to at least  give myself credit for all that I've accomplished?

Do you have any other thoughts or encouragements that we haven't explored yet, or any other categories regarding questions that we haven't touched on?