Learning to Facilitate Classroom Conversations about Race
In late July of this year,
UNC Center for Urban Education (CUE) launched a book study group with the Center’s faculty and mentors. The group—which is meeting in person now that the campus is open again—is reading
Not Light, but Fire: How to Lead Meaningful Race Conversations in the Classroom by Matthew R. Kay. “We continuously look for resources that support excellent teaching and provide opportunities for our professors and mentors to keep learning,” said CUE Director Dr. Rosanne Fulton.
In Not Light, but Fire, the author guides teachers through the process of facilitating difficult conversations about race. He describes how to make the topic approachable and help the students feel safe. He emphasizes history and culture and encourages teachers to develop a sense of community through storytelling about race, diversity, and social justice.
Develop a sense of community through storytelling about race, diversity, and social justice.
Fulton noted, “Kay teaches how to build trust and orchestrate conversations that matter—in the large group, in small groups, and one on one.” The author states that one-on-one conversations often encourage students to, “…engage a secret, scholarly self that would have otherwise been buried.”
One-on-one conversations often encourage students to, “…engage a secret, scholarly self that would have otherwise been buried.”
“The author honors students and reminds us that the teacher isn’t all-knowing,” said Fulton. After the group is finished reading the book, Fulton will follow up by asking each participant to evaluate and share the changes they’ve made to their teaching methods and practices as a result of reading the book. “That way, we’re consciously evolving and learning from each other,” said Fulton.
The CUE faculty members thank the Professional Development Committee and Lyda McCartin on the UNC main campus for donating the funds to buy the books for our study.
