Taking Back Control
African Canadian Women Teachers' Lives and Practice
Published on 3. September 1998
Book
Hardback
211 pages
978-0-7914-3837-4 (ISBN)
Description
An alternative pedagogical perspective toward the education of Black children is explored through the narratives of five African Canadian women teachers.
Taking Back Control is a ground-breaking investigation of the world and consciousness of five African Canadian women teachers. Their rich, textured narratives explore the contradictions in North American and "Western" education and the need for alternative standpoints and transformative strategies. Their engaged vision is presented as a means to discuss the limitations and possibilities of oppositional "minority" teacher standpoints in the mainstream, as well as alternative pedagogical strategies. Henry also discusses the literacy strategies employed in creating an environment in which African Canadian pupils can develop literacy skills and critically understand their identities as people of African heritage in North American society. She raises important issues for thinking about teaching from critical, informed, anti-racist perspectives.
Taking Back Control is a ground-breaking investigation of the world and consciousness of five African Canadian women teachers. Their rich, textured narratives explore the contradictions in North American and "Western" education and the need for alternative standpoints and transformative strategies. Their engaged vision is presented as a means to discuss the limitations and possibilities of oppositional "minority" teacher standpoints in the mainstream, as well as alternative pedagogical strategies. Henry also discusses the literacy strategies employed in creating an environment in which African Canadian pupils can develop literacy skills and critically understand their identities as people of African heritage in North American society. She raises important issues for thinking about teaching from critical, informed, anti-racist perspectives.
Reviews / Votes
"This book is superbly written and interesting to read. The framing of the text and the articulate development of a number of theoretical underpinnings clearly establish its intellectual contribution. Throughout Henry creates and weaves a texture that illustrates the relationship of her theorizing to previous understandings of Afrocentric and womanist views. This in itself (the application of education to such stances) is new; that she goes on to embellish and build upon such theory is even more exciting." - Toni C. King, Denison University"This book will prove vital to those who seek to understand how teachers conceptualize their work. We are just beginning to get information on how teachers of color view themselves, and this book provides that. I know of no competing book. The classroom interaction sections are extremely important and will be unique in the literature." - Lisa Delpit, Georgia State University
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Albany, NY
United States
Target group
College/higher education
US School Grade: College Graduate Student and over
Weight
481 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-7914-3837-4 (9780791438374)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Annette Henry is Associate Professor of Education at University of Illinois at Chicago.
Content
Preface
Acknowledgments
Introduction: Taking Back Control
Part I. Black Women Teachers' Activism: Conversations And Contexts
1. Black Women Teachers Speak
Ese
Makeda
Inez
Rita
Viv
2. Contextualizing Black Women's Lives and Activism
"Adventure," "Opportunity," "A Better Life," and Other Myths: African-Caribbean Canadians in the Political Economy
"Scrubbing Hard Someplace"
"I'm a Paper Canadian"
African Canadian Educational Activism: A History of Cultural Resistance
Part II. Classroom Practice
3. "So You Close the Door and You Do What Works": Possibilities and Limitations of Oppositional Standpoints
Hands in the Lion's Mouth
Voices in the Wilderness: Black Women in White Institutions
Child-centeredness Undressed
Discussion
4. Literacy, Black Self-representation, and Cultural Practice: Sustaining and Re-creating Intertextual Relationships in the African Diaspora
"Intertextual Crossing": Cultural Forms as Pedagogical Forms
"Don't Throw Stones when You've Got Glass Windows!": Proverbs and Maxims in the Classroom
"It's Jamaican, Miss! They're Jamaican Words!": Caribbean Creoles in the Classroom
Discussion
5. The Dilemma of the Empty Shelf and Other Curricular Challenges for Transformative Teachers
The Dilemma of the Empty Shelf
"Liberating Their Minds"
Discussion
Epilogue: Holding on to Hope
Thoughts on Pedagogies of Black Self-Representation
Critically Raising the Next Generation of Black Women: Working Against Invisibility and Silence
The Subject of Black Women
Notes
Bibliography
Index
Acknowledgments
Introduction: Taking Back Control
Part I. Black Women Teachers' Activism: Conversations And Contexts
1. Black Women Teachers Speak
Ese
Makeda
Inez
Rita
Viv
2. Contextualizing Black Women's Lives and Activism
"Adventure," "Opportunity," "A Better Life," and Other Myths: African-Caribbean Canadians in the Political Economy
"Scrubbing Hard Someplace"
"I'm a Paper Canadian"
African Canadian Educational Activism: A History of Cultural Resistance
Part II. Classroom Practice
3. "So You Close the Door and You Do What Works": Possibilities and Limitations of Oppositional Standpoints
Hands in the Lion's Mouth
Voices in the Wilderness: Black Women in White Institutions
Child-centeredness Undressed
Discussion
4. Literacy, Black Self-representation, and Cultural Practice: Sustaining and Re-creating Intertextual Relationships in the African Diaspora
"Intertextual Crossing": Cultural Forms as Pedagogical Forms
"Don't Throw Stones when You've Got Glass Windows!": Proverbs and Maxims in the Classroom
"It's Jamaican, Miss! They're Jamaican Words!": Caribbean Creoles in the Classroom
Discussion
5. The Dilemma of the Empty Shelf and Other Curricular Challenges for Transformative Teachers
The Dilemma of the Empty Shelf
"Liberating Their Minds"
Discussion
Epilogue: Holding on to Hope
Thoughts on Pedagogies of Black Self-Representation
Critically Raising the Next Generation of Black Women: Working Against Invisibility and Silence
The Subject of Black Women
Notes
Bibliography
Index