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Addressing Anti-Asian Racism and Misogyny in the Classroom

In the past year, we witnessed increased racial violence in the United States. Most days, news and social media feeds are saturated with stories about hate incidents against Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) communities. The history of systemic racism is not new in the United States or within the context of Michigan State University (MSU). The shift, though, is seen in media outlets and people becoming more forthright to address racial violence openly.


Use different modalities to facilitate conversation


Storytelling is an effective method of communication. It’s easy to dismiss and become desensitized to the news, but sharing personal stories is more palatable to discuss systemic racism on an interpersonal level. When students reflect on the personal impact of systemic racism within their lives-- whether it is their access to or lack of privilege-- it helps them understand how to confront these issues openly.


Arts-based exploration is another method for critical discussion and reflection. Unprompted open discussion is intimidating for students regardless of the topic. As an educator, I often lean on arts-based methods to slow down the pace and provide an opportunity for self-guided learning.


Explore

In the following example, I introduce students to a piece of art exploring intersectional oppression including Anti-Asian racism and misogyny following the recent mass shooting in Atlanta, GA. Students will have 15 mins to explore and journal about their reactions independently. In creating this lesson, I used Univeral Design for Learning Guidelines to provide multiple means of engagement (self-regulation), multiple means of representation (art, text, symbols), and multiple means of action and expression (journaling, recording their responses, drawing).

Check out the piece below. Pretend you’re doing a “gallery walk” and take time to analyze each piece of information. What ideas come up for you? Share your thoughts with me on Twitter @kristensurla.




References

Center for Applied Special Technology (2021). About universal design for learning. [Website]. https://www.cast.org/impact/universal-design-for-learning-udl#.XFBpZi2ZOL9

Chang., A. (2021 March 19). For Asian American women, misogyny and racism are inseparable, sociologist says. National Public Radio. https://www.npr.org/2021/03/19/979336512/for-asian-american-women-misogyny-and-racism-are-inseparable-sociologist-says

Crenshaw, K.(2016).The urgency of intersectionality [Video]. TED Talk. https://www.ted.com/talks/kimberle_crenshaw_the_urgency_of_intersectionality?language=en

Eckhart, K., Shock, M.R. (2021 March 19). How white supremacy, racist myths fuel anti-Asian violence. University of Washington News. https://www.washington.edu/news/2021/03/19/how-white-supremacy-racist-myths-fuel-anti-asian-violence/

Firozi, P., Berman M.K., Bella., T., McMillan, K., Knowles, H. (17 March 2021). Suspect charged with eight counts of murder in killings at Atlanta-area spas, authorities say. Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/03/17/atlanta-spa-shootings-live-updates/

Pithouse-Morgan, K., Pillay, D., Mitchell, C. (2019). Memory mosaics: New voices, insights, possibilities for working with the arts and memory in researching teacher professional learning. In Pithouse-Morgan, K., In Pillay, D., & In Mitchell, C. (Eds.). Memory Mosaics: Researching Teacher Professional Learning Through Artful Memory-work (pp. 1–14). Springer.

Venzant-Chambers, T., Carter-Andrews, D. Hadley-Dunn, A., Phelp-Moultrie, J. (9, June, 2020). Rising to our responsibility [Webinar]. Michigan State University. https://education.msu.edu/event/rising-to-our-responsibility/


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