Aspects of Identity: Implications for Practice - Johnny Cole Director of Equity & Student Supports Lexington Public Schools ...
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Aspects of Identity:
Implications for Practice
Johnny Cole
Director of Equity & Student Supports
Lexington Public Schools
@LexingtonDEI
Acknowledging the Land
We Acknowledge the
indigenous people who
first occupied all of what
is now called North &
South America.
Some still live on their
original land, some were
relocated, some were
enslaved across the
ocean, and many, if not
all, were victims of
genocide.
Name it
Be Curious Notice & Wonder
Within context of power and
Hold on to Multiple Realities privilege…
both/and thinking
Yet…
Stay the Course We are all learning
Be willing to “try things on”
Guidelines for Couragoues Conversations
Assumptions I (Your Facilitator) Bring ● We are here because we care about kids. ● We all already have a lot on our plate with competing demands. ● Your facilitator comes with experience, and you know your students and community best. ● We are all at different places in our understanding of race, ethnicity, and culture. This is a process and takes time.
Guiding Principles ● Learning and change happen in a space that is safe and challenging, where people can speak honestly, accept each other’s learning curve, and recognize that no one is the expert. ● It is important to understand the process of self-reflection and be honest about our own biases. ● The opportunity and achievement gaps are real, and through intentional actions and relationship building they can be narrowed. ● In a supportive environment all students can experience academic and social success. ● Teaching and learning are not neutral acts.
Stand Up If... Please stand up if you identify with any of the statements we call out.
Left Hand / Right Hand Left vs. Right
“Soul-Crushing Problems Only Left-Handed People Understand” (Buzzfeed 2014) Walking into a classroom full of these
“Soul-Crushing Problems Only Left-Handed People Understand” (Buzzfeed 2014) And having an endless search until you find the HOLY GRAIL
“Soul-Crushing Problems Only Left-Handed People Understand” (Buzzfeed 2014) These medieval torture devices
“Soul-Crushing Problems Only Left-Handed People Understand” (Buzzfeed 2014) Mugs don’t care about you
“Soul-Crushing Problems Only Left-Handed People Understand” (Buzzfeed 2014) Ice cream doesn’t care about you
“Soul-Crushing Problems Only Left-Handed People Understand” (Buzzfeed 2014) Can openers exist to cause you pain
“Soul-Crushing Problems Only Left-Handed People Understand” (Buzzfeed 2014) Upside-down measuring tape
“Soul-Crushing Problems Only Left-Handed People Understand” (Buzzfeed 2014) Spiral notebooks...oooooh spiral notebooks
“Soul-Crushing Problems Only Left-Handed People Understand” (Buzzfeed 2014) Crossword puzzles will never be readable
“Soul-Crushing Problems Only Left-Handed People Understand” (Buzzfeed 2014) Binders. BINDERS.
“Soul-Crushing Problems Only Left-Handed People Understand” (Buzzfeed 2014) Cards.
“Soul-Crushing Problems Only Left-Handed People Understand” (Buzzfeed 2014) Spending your entire life bumping elbows with righties
He has two left feet!
She’s out in
left field...
Sinistra
(sinister)
That’s a
left-handed
Gauche
compliment...
Expressions & IdiomsFrom The New York Times
March 2011
“
Over the centuries, left-handers have been
accused of criminality and dealings with
the devil, and children have been
subjected to “re-education.”
...But the riddle of what underlies handedness
remains. Its proportions — roughly 90 percent of
people are right-handed and 10 percent
left-handed — stay consistent over time.Left Hand / Right Hand Left vs. Right
Advantages & Disadvantages
Left vs. Right
Lack of Visibility Visibility
Sense of Otherness Sense of Belonging
Inefficiency Efficiency
More Effort Req’d Less Effort Req’d
Financial Loss Financial Gain
Disapproval of History Favor of History
Lack of Entitlement EntitlementWhat Do We Do with Privilege? ● Recognize we were born into these systems ● Consider when we yield our privilege ● Create comfort for those without it
Left Hand Right Hand
Informally Educated Formally Educated
Female Male
Person of Color White
Transgender Cisgender
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual Heterosexual
Newcomer, Immigrant Born in the USA
Used to having “less” Used to having “enough” or “more”
1st Fluent Language is not English 1st fluent language is English
Single Married
Disabled/Differently Abled Temporarily Able-Bodied/-Minded
Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Christian
Atheist, Agnostic and Other
Non-Christian GroupsMica Pollock
“
...because we categorize people, often distribute opportunities accordingly,
and forge powerful identities along the way, ignoring categories
can translate into ignoring aspects of our lived experience...
The problem with just relying on any one of my labels to support me
would be if you decided to look no further--if you presumed my
experience without asking more, if you assumed false things about
my “group,” or if you forgot to analyze how all of these experiences
intersect in my individual life and just described me with one of
these many labels. You’d need to keep learning about me, right?
But if you refused to recognize my experiences in these
categories, you’d ignore my actual experiences--and
supporting me would be difficult. (p. 37, 38)Intersectionality Kimberlé Crenshaw
Ijeoma Oluo
“
Intersectionality helps ensure that fewer people are
left behind and that our efforts to do better for some
do not make things far worse for others.
Intersectionality helps us stay true to our values of
justice and equality by helping to keep our privilege
from getting in our way. Intersectionality makes our
systems more effective and more fair.Why Focus on Race? ● Implicit nature ● Skills are transferable ● Inequitable outcomes ● Socialized not to focus on it ● Intersectional by design
Internalized Racism
Acceptance by members of
the stigmatized races of
negative messages about
Personally Mediated Racism 3 their own abilities and intrinsic
Prejudice and discrimination, worth. It is characterized by
where prejudice means their not believing in others
differential assumptions about who look like them, and not
abilities, motives, and intentions 2 believing in themselves
of others according to their race,
and discrimination means Institutionalized Racism
differential actions towards
others according to their race 1 Differential access to the
goods, services, and
opportunities of society
by race
Dr. Camara Phyllis Jones, “Levels of Racism: A Theoretic Framework and
a Gardener’s Tale,” American Journal of Public Health, August 2000.Old Soil New Soil Dr. Camara Phyllis Jones, “Levels of Racism: A Theoretic Framework and a Gardener’s Tale,” American Journal of Public Health, August 2000.
“I was right to prefer blue over
red! Look how vibrant and
beautiful the blue flowers look,
and see how pitiful and scrawny
the red ones are!
Old Soil New Soil
Dr. Camara Phyllis Jones, “Levels of Racism: A Theoretic Framework and
a Gardener’s Tale,” American Journal of Public Health, August 2000.Institutionalized Racism ● Historical Insult: Separating the seed into two different types of soil ● Structural Barriers: Flower boxes, keeping the soils separate ● Acts of Omission: Failing to address the differences between soils over the years ● Unearned Privilege: Blue flowers did not earn the right to be in the rich soil Dr. Camara Phyllis Jones, “Levels of Racism: A Theoretic Framework and a Gardener’s Tale,” American Journal of Public Health, August 2000.
Personally Mediated Racism ● Plucking red blossoms before they can go to seed or, when a seed from the red blossom is blown into the rich soil, plucking it out before it can establish itself ● Intentional or Unintentional ● Acts of commission or Omission ● Maintains structural barriers ● Condoned by societal norms Dr. Camara Phyllis Jones, “Levels of Racism: A Theoretic Framework and a Gardener’s Tale,” American Journal of Public Health, August 2000.
Internalized Racism ● “Mr. Bee, don’t bring me any of that red pollen--I prefer the blue!” ● Reflects system of privilege ● Reflects societal values ● Erodes individual sense of value ● Undermines collective action Dr. Camara Phyllis Jones, “Levels of Racism: A Theoretic Framework and a Gardener’s Tale,” American Journal of Public Health, August 2000.
What To Do?
● Address Internalized Racism: “Red is beautiful!”
○ Equity Literacy: We must avoid being lulled by popular “diversity” approaches and
frameworks that pose no threat to inequity—that sometimes are popular because they
are no real threat to inequity
● Address Personally Mediated Racism: “Stop plucking the red buds before they have a
chance!”
○ Might work, might not. Does nothing to address the poor, rocky condition of the soil in
which they live
● Address Institutionalized Racism:
○ Break down the boxes and mix up the soil
○ Leave two boxes and fertilize the poor soil until it is as rich as the fertile soil
Dr. Camara Phyllis Jones, “Levels of Racism: A Theoretic Framework and
a Gardener’s Tale,” American Journal of Public Health, August 2000.How Often Do You Discuss Identity with Your Children? Source: Sesame Workshop & NORC at the University of Chicago / Credit: Connie Hanzhang Jin/NPR
40% vs. 17%
black parents whose children have heard negative comments
about their race vs. white parents
50%
parents whose trans and nonbinary children have
heard negative comments about them
46% & 28%
Muslim & Jewish parents whose children have heard
negative comments about them
Source: Sesame Workshop & NORC at the University of ChicagoCrystal Fleming
How To Be Less
Stupid About Race
“
“No one is going to be able to be able to explain to you, in
a sound bite, what you should do to challenge
[oppression]. They simply can’t. The answer is going to
vary for each individual, depending on your personality
and background, interests, talents, and inclinations. So,
it’s your job to figure out how you can best leverage your
knowledge and skills to help humanity.”Tricia Ebarvia
@triciaebarvia
“
[Teachers] who want to change the world: You
cannot disrupt systems of oppression until you
understand how systems of oppression
work—and you cannot understand how systems
of oppression work until you understand how
they have worked on YOU.Renni Eddo-Lodge
Why I’m No Longer Talking to
White People About Race
“
Unlike white people, people of colour don’t often ask me
for advice on what I think they should do to fight racism.
Instead, they ask me if I have any good strategies for
coping. I don’t have any magic formulas, but I’m a big
advocate for setting boundaries when needed. Surround
yourself with people you can draw strength from. If you
need to stop talking to white people about race, don’t feel
guilty about it. Rest and recharge, so that you’re ready to
do your anti-racist work in a sustainable way.” (221)CONCERN INFLUENCE CONTROL
Thank You! Johnny Cole Director of Equity & Student Supports Lexington Public Schools jcole@lexingtonma.org @LexingtonDEI
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