Posts in News
Literary Blackface: The Case for Diverse Authors in the Classroom
Literary Blackface: The Case for Diverse Authors in the Classroom

To celebrate Black History Month, Barnes and Noble, in partnership with Penguin Random House (PRH), announced their plan to reissue copies of classic novels with covers featuring people of color. The “Diverse Editions“ campaign was met with criticism and skepticism, with some critics calling it “literary blackface”.

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News, EducationNina GrotchEnglish and Language Arts, curriculum, Black History, representation, intersectionality, literature
What Happened to the Rohingya?
What Happened to the Rohingya?

In August 2017, a genocide occurred on our watch. For years, the international community ignored the warning signs in Myanmar. This Southeast Asian nation has led a campaign against the Rohingya people that includes their imprisonment in internment camps and widespread violence against the group. Two years have passed and more than 700,000 Rohingya remain displaced. How did this happen?

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NewsNikki Bambauer
Art or Racist Relic? School Mural Controversy Offers Opportunity for Student Debate
Art or Racist Relic? School Mural Controversy Offers Opportunity for Student Debate

A mural at the entrance of a public high school in San Francisco is receiving national attention due to the controversial nature of its subject. This mural depicts the ugly side of American history, showing George Washington as a slaveowner and depicting Native Americans and African Americans in negative ways.

The debate about this mural raises many questions relevant to our students. The First Amendment, censorship, “trigger warnings,” and the role of art to provoke and evoke feelings are central to examinations of American history and culture.

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NewsNina Grotchart, free speech, censorship, San Francisco, education, history, United States, genocide, slavery, Native Americans, racism
A National Shame: Human Rights Abuses at the Border
A National Shame: Human Rights Abuses at the Border

President Trump’s comments about migrants and asylum-seekers crossing the southern border should be categorized as racist and xenophobic. Not surprisingly, his administration’s policies are in line with this dehumanizing language and have worsened the humanitarian crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border.

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NewsNikki Bambauerimmigration, refugees, racism, Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, United Nations, asylum, migrants