Reclaiming Space

Reclaiming Space: Critical Conversations about Black Education to Spark Transformative Change invites readers on a journey to reimagine educational spaces that truly embrace diversity and inclusion. Along with contributing authors, Dr. Marks draws upon her personal experiences as a student and educator to explore systematic barriers that have hindered and marginalized Black voices and perspectives. With the spirit of Sankofa and the power of ‘reimagining and dreaming,’ Dr. Marks and her colleagues provide compelling narratives and research-based strategies that challenge traditional norms within educational spaces and empower stakeholders to actively participate in cultivating environments where Black educators and students can truly thrive. Reclaiming Space is not simply a call to action, it is an insistence on enacting culturally responsive and sustaining transformational change in educational spaces.

Reclaiming Space acknowledges the ways in which Black youth and educators alike have been disenfranchised in educational spaces, from the silent push out of Black educators, diminishing the presence of Black educators in classrooms across the nation, to the plethora of harms caused to Black youth in K-12 spaces (including, but not limited to, the achievement gap, discipline gap, and disproportionate special education referrals). What we have seen since the Brown v. Board of Education decision is the marginalization of Black youth and educators in addition to the elimination of Black excellence in schools. As such, Reclaiming Space seeks to create a counter narrative to push back on deficit perspectives and ideologies in regards to the ways in which we view and interact with our Black students and educators. This volume works to illuminate the Black community and inspire all to consider the ways in which we can work to center Black excellence, and uplift Black youth and educators alike to reclaim space within the American educational system.

Reclaiming Space will be separated into three sections, which will revolve around themes of disrupting harmful systems of practice, centering Black excellence and affirming Black culture, and supporting Black educators. Chapters for each of the three sections will be compiled of submitted manuscripts based on the questions listed above. In this way, this book volume seeks to work as a counter narrative to deficit viewpoints and perspectives, but also an act of itself in ‘reclaiming space.’ Reclaiming Space is intended to inspire others to center and/or affirm Black excellence in meaningful ways that work to better support our Black students and teachers.

The text most strongly works for K-12 educators and administrators, faculty in higher education, and community members. The topics within Reclaiming Space are of interest to both those who are within the field of education and those who are not, as the issues stemming from harmful educational practices goes on to permeate spaces beyond. Having strong voices and experiences with disrupting these harmful practices from different perspectives and vantage points will hopefully not only better inform readers, but spark interest and hope as we move forward to dream about an educational system that is truly grounded in equitable access and opportunities for all.

Perfect for courses such as: Introduction to Black Studies; Teaching for Diversity and Social Justice; Critical Thinking and Contemporary Social problem (sociology); Race and Ethnic Relations; Race and Ethnic Dynamics in the United States; Black Experiences in the United States; Cultural Diversity in US Schools; Sociology of Education; Sociocultural Foundations in Education; Classroom Management and Differentiated Instruction