Module 5: Responses to Race
Part 8: Co-Conspirators, Abolitionists, & AntiRacists
Being an ally can begin to demonstrate an understanding and show an initial support. However, overcoming systemic racism requires more than a passive show of support. This part looks more at being a co-conspirator, abolitionist teacher, and antiracist.
Suggested Goals:
1. To understand what it means to be a co-conspirator, an abolitionist teacher, and an antiracist.
2. To consider how educational systems are impacted by racism and how being a co-conspirator, abolitionist teacher, and antiracist could impact changes in these systems.
3. To begin to consider actions aligned with being a co-conspirator, an abolitionist teacher, and an antiracist to overcome racism in classrooms, schools, and districts.
Suggested Goals:
1. To understand what it means to be a co-conspirator, an abolitionist teacher, and an antiracist.
2. To consider how educational systems are impacted by racism and how being a co-conspirator, abolitionist teacher, and antiracist could impact changes in these systems.
3. To begin to consider actions aligned with being a co-conspirator, an abolitionist teacher, and an antiracist to overcome racism in classrooms, schools, and districts.
&1: Co-Conspirators, Abolitionists, & Antiracists
The last part overviewed allyship and introduced the progression from ally to co-conspirator. In the article “We Need Co-Conspirators, Not Allies” referenced in the previous part, Feminista Jones states that, “The definition of ally-ship is to mutually benefit and support.” Jones points out that White people, as members of the dominant group in society, do not have the same focus or the need for mutual support. This brings the call for White people to be active, antiracist, and co-conspirators in fighting racism.
Read/Watch:
Ally or Co-Conspirator?: What It Means To Act #InSolidarity
https://movetoendviolence.org/blog/ally-co-conspirator-means-act-insolidarity/
Watch:
Dr. Bettina Love Explains What She Means By a Co-Conspirator
https://www.c-span.org/video/?c4880307/user-clip-dr-bettina-love-explains-means-conspirator
To dismantle systemic racism, White people need to work together with Black people to leverage privilege for change. This work is not about one group, but about working together for liberation of all people. However, all people cannot be liberated if Black people or any other group of people are oppressed.
Read:
The Role of White Co-Conspirators in Dismantling Systemic Racism
https://embracingequity.org/blog/2018/11/2/let-us-work-together-the-role-of-white-co-conspirators-in-dismantling-systemic-racism
Reflect:
Building on the work of being co-conspirators, Bettina Love advocates for teachers to practice as abolitionist teachers. Dr. Love introduced this idea in the video about allies and co-conspirators in the previous part. More of her work and resources for being an abolitionist teacher are in the resources below.
Read:
Abolitionist Teaching in Action: Q & A With Bettina L. Love
http://www.ascd.org/publications/newsletters/education-update/dec19/vol61/num12/Abolitionist-Teaching-in-Action@-Q$A-with-Bettina-L.-Love.aspx
Watch:
Note: The video links below are longer videos.
We Want To Do More Than Survive
https://www.c-span.org/video/?458837-1/we-survive
Abolitionist Teaching and the Future of Our Schools
https://www.haymarketbooks.org/blogs/179-abolitionist-teaching-and-the-future-of-our-schools
Read/Listen/Watch:
Through Abolitionist Teaching, American Teachers Can Help Kids “Do More Than Survive
https://www.gpb.org/news/2019/04/15/through-abolitionist-teaching-american-educators-can-help-kids-do-more-survive
Read/Watch:
Ally or Co-Conspirator?: What It Means To Act #InSolidarity
https://movetoendviolence.org/blog/ally-co-conspirator-means-act-insolidarity/
Watch:
Dr. Bettina Love Explains What She Means By a Co-Conspirator
https://www.c-span.org/video/?c4880307/user-clip-dr-bettina-love-explains-means-conspirator
To dismantle systemic racism, White people need to work together with Black people to leverage privilege for change. This work is not about one group, but about working together for liberation of all people. However, all people cannot be liberated if Black people or any other group of people are oppressed.
Read:
The Role of White Co-Conspirators in Dismantling Systemic Racism
https://embracingequity.org/blog/2018/11/2/let-us-work-together-the-role-of-white-co-conspirators-in-dismantling-systemic-racism
Reflect:
- What does it mean to be a co-conspirator? How could this apply to your practice?
- What is one role co-conspirators can take in dismantling systemic racism? How could you assume this role in your classroom, school, or district?
Building on the work of being co-conspirators, Bettina Love advocates for teachers to practice as abolitionist teachers. Dr. Love introduced this idea in the video about allies and co-conspirators in the previous part. More of her work and resources for being an abolitionist teacher are in the resources below.
Read:
Abolitionist Teaching in Action: Q & A With Bettina L. Love
http://www.ascd.org/publications/newsletters/education-update/dec19/vol61/num12/Abolitionist-Teaching-in-Action@-Q$A-with-Bettina-L.-Love.aspx
Watch:
Note: The video links below are longer videos.
We Want To Do More Than Survive
https://www.c-span.org/video/?458837-1/we-survive
Abolitionist Teaching and the Future of Our Schools
https://www.haymarketbooks.org/blogs/179-abolitionist-teaching-and-the-future-of-our-schools
Read/Listen/Watch:
Through Abolitionist Teaching, American Teachers Can Help Kids “Do More Than Survive
https://www.gpb.org/news/2019/04/15/through-abolitionist-teaching-american-educators-can-help-kids-do-more-survive
Explore:
Abolitionist Teaching Network
https://abolitionistteachingnetwork.org/
Reflect:
- What does it mean to be an abolitionist teacher?
- How could you change your practice to be an abolitionist teacher?
All of the work should include action. The action should not be centered on the feelings of White people but on the act of liberation for all. Antiracism works against racism and requires constant awareness of the choices we make and the actions we take.
Read:
Excerpt from The Racial Healing Handbook
https://nmaahc.si.edu/sites/default/files/downloads/resources/racialhealinghandbook_p87to94.pdf
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What It Means to Be an Antiracist: Antiracism, Explained
https://www.vox.com/2020/6/3/21278245/antiracist-racism-race-books-resources-antiracism
The following resources provide additional opportunities to learn and to take action. Remember that being antiracist is a process that requires both learning and action. For example, one resource provides 100 things White people can do. This does not mean that you have to do all 100 things, but it offers direction and inspiration to get involved and take action. As Dr. Ibram X. Kendi has stated, a person can be either racist or antiracist depending on the choices and actions taken at a given time. These resources can help you to be educated and prepared to make the antiracist choice in various circumstances.
Read/Watch:
Being Antiracist
https://nmaahc.si.edu/learn/talking-about-race/topics/being-antiracist
https://www.vox.com/2020/6/3/21278245/antiracist-racism-race-books-resources-antiracism
The following resources provide additional opportunities to learn and to take action. Remember that being antiracist is a process that requires both learning and action. For example, one resource provides 100 things White people can do. This does not mean that you have to do all 100 things, but it offers direction and inspiration to get involved and take action. As Dr. Ibram X. Kendi has stated, a person can be either racist or antiracist depending on the choices and actions taken at a given time. These resources can help you to be educated and prepared to make the antiracist choice in various circumstances.
Read/Watch:
Being Antiracist
https://nmaahc.si.edu/learn/talking-about-race/topics/being-antiracist
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Read/Listen:
“Not Racist” Is Not Enough: Putting in the Work To Be Antiracist
https://www.npr.org/2020/08/24/905515398/not-racist-is-not-enough-putting-in-the-work-to-be-anti-racist?utm_campaign=npr&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_term=nprnews&utm_medium=social&fbclid=IwAR27zlxU_Oxs6CYXyXvyoXPjqiV4fvt_ThKtJ0-6FC3ybspe1EknMLJoHRc
Explore:
Anti-racism Resources
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BRlF2_zhNe86SGgHa6-VlBO-QgirITwCTugSfKie5Fs/edit
Read/Explore/Act:
100 Things White People Can Do for Racial Justice
https://medium.com/equality-includes-you/what-white-people-can-do-for-racial-justice-f2d18b0e0234
Reflect:
- What does it mean to be antiracist? How does this incorporate the ideas of being co-conspirators and abolitionist teachers?
- What are two examples of racism that you witnessed in education? How could you counter these examples with an antiracist approach?
- How could you change your practice to focus on being antiracist?
To learn more, you can read How To Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi and We Want To Do More Than Survive: Abolitionist Teaching and the Pursuit of Educational Freedom by Bettina Love (citations below).
Kendi, I. X. (2019). How to be an antiracist. One World.
Love, B. L. (2019). We want to do more than survive: Abolitionist teaching and the pursuit of educational freedom. Beacon Press.
The next part will provide an opportunity for reflecting on this module about responses to race and future action. After considering this module, you can proceed to the next module that focuses on how this work can connect to education.
