Back to School: Building an Antiracist Classroom with Dr. Ronda Taylor Bullock

Dr. Diane's Adventures in Learning

Dr. Ronda Taylor Bullock is the co founder and executive director of we are (working to extend anti-racist education), a nonprofit in North Carolina that provides antiracism training for children, families, and educators. I first met Dr. Ronda at the North Carolina Reading Conference, and she blew me away with the resources and the thoughtfulness she had put behind helping teachers and families really think through how to create an antiracist environment.

[01:00] Setting Kids Up for Success

• The importance of setting families and children up for success, especially in terms of antiracist education.
• Empowering children to recognize fairness and unfairness based on skin color.
• Encouraging conversations about diversity and reading books with characters from various racial and ethnic backgrounds.
• Affirming the identity of children of color and addressing colorism within communities.

[03:33] Creating Inclusive School Environments

• Fostering a welcoming environment in schools for children of all backgrounds.
• The significance of pronouncing students' names correctly and respecting their identities.

[05:38] Diverse Picture Books for Welcoming Environments:

• Book suggestions for building a diverse and inclusive classroom environment.

07:51] Using Books as Windows, Mirrors, and Sliding Glass Doors

• Reflecting on Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop's concept
• The importance of representing diverse experiences and perspectives, and the power of books to affirm children's identities and help them recognize the broader world.

[10:24] Embracing Diverse Stories

• Encouraging authentic representation of children of color as protagonists in all kinds of stories.
• Moving beyond oppressive narratives to explore stories of joy, adventure, and Afrofuturism.

[11:54] Selecting Culturally Authentic Books

• Providing a checklist for reviewing materials and books for culturally authenticity, as well as potential red flags.

[13:48] Recommended Authors and Resources

[15:00] Sponsor Ad:

[17:55] Founding "we are" and Its Growth

• Dr. Ronda explains the inception of "we are" and her vision to teach antiracism to children, families, and educators through camps, family engagement, and working with schools.

[23:39] Schools Embracing Antiracism

• Dr. Ronda highlights schools that are working towards embracing antiracism, such as Northside Elementary and Durham Public Schools.

[29:34] Becoming a Peaceful Disruptor

• Dr. Ronda identifies herself as a peaceful disruptor, aiming to create peace while disrupting systems of oppression.

[31:50] Recognized at the White House

• Dr. Ronda shares her experience of being recognized as an emerging black leader at the White House during Black History Month.

[35:11] Future Plans for "we are"

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*Disclosure: I am a Bookshop.org. affiliate.