Teaching about Race and Racism in the College Classroom
Jan 9, 2025
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Cyndi Kernahan, a professor and director at the University of Wisconsin, River Falls, shares her expertise on race and racism in education. She discusses strategies for fostering discussions around institutionalized racism, aiming for students to focus on systemic issues rather than personal guilt. Kernahan highlights the significance of acknowledging intersectionality and the complexities of teaching race to enhance understanding of social privileges. She also recommends relevant literature and television shows that encourage deep reflection and engagement.
Teaching about race and racism from a systemic perspective empowers students to recognize institutionalized racism and white privilege.
Addressing colorblindness in discussions about race helps students engage critically with systemic inequalities rather than personal morality.
Deep dives
Cindy Kernahan's Background and Interest in Racism
Cindy Kernahan shares her early experiences in Oklahoma City public schools, highlighting a memorable debate with a classmate about the race of God. This incident sparked her interest in understanding prejudice and racism at a young age. The integration she experienced in schools contrasted with the realities of systemic inequalities, particularly regarding school bus routes for her Black classmates. These formative experiences laid the groundwork for her lifelong pursuit of understanding and dismantling racial biases.
The Flaw in Colorblindness
The podcast examines the concept of colorblindness, which is often mistakenly viewed as an ideal approach to race. Cindy points out that this belief can lead individuals to overlook systemic and structural disparities that affect people of color. Instead of fostering a deeper understanding, colorblindness perpetuates a false narrative that masking racial considerations is beneficial. Acknowledging racial differences and biases is essential to understanding one's privilege and facilitating meaningful discussions about race.
Impact of Teaching About Racism
Cindy discusses the long-term positive outcomes of teaching students about racism and systemic inequalities. Research she conducted shows that, over time, students develop a clearer understanding of institutionalized racism and white privilege, leading to lasting shifts in their attitudes. This understanding empowers students to engage in conversations about racism confidently, with many recalling lessons long after completing the course. The critical notion here is that education on these topics promotes awareness that can translate into actionable change in various sectors.
The Importance of Systemic Understanding in Education
The conversation emphasizes the need to approach racism from a systemic perspective rather than an individual one. By framing discussions around systemic racism, educators can help students recognize the broader societal implications and avoid the trap of personal morality. This approach allows for a deeper engagement with the material, fostering critical thinking and understanding. Cindy encourages educators to utilize specific examples and policies to illustrate systemic disparities across various disciplines and societal structures.
Cyndi Kernahan discusses her book Teaching About Race and Racism in the College Classroom on episode 552 of the Teaching in Higher Ed podcast.
Quotes from the episode
Students begin to better understand institutionalized racism, which is my main goal for them.
-Cyndi Kernahan
When we focus on it as systemic, it allows students to stop focusing so much on themselves about, like, am I a good person or am I a bad person?
-Cyndi Kernahan
There’s a lot of psych research that shows that it’s easier for people to think about their own social privilege when they can also think about other parts of their identity that may not hold as much privilege.
-Cyndi Kernahan