Book Review - Courageous Conversations about Race: A Field Guide for Achieving Equity in Schools
Heather Taylor, Associate Professor of English, Bethany College
KEY DETAILS
Title of Book: Courageous Conversations about Race: A Field Guide for Achieving Equity in Schools (2nd Edition)
Written By: Glenn E. Singleton
Publisher: Corwin (A SAGE company)
Intended Audience: Educators at all levels
OVERVIEW
Faculty and staff alike have long understood that community building is an integral part of both learning and living communities. In order to build community, we need to understand and honor the individuals in the room, which means having, what some may consider, difficult conversations about race, gender identity, and ethnicity. Singleton addresses the need for courageous conversations about race and lays out a plan for curriculum development that promotes equity.
KEY ELEMENTS
- 3 Critical Factors: Passion, Practice, Persistence
- 6 Conditions of Courageous Conversations
- History of Race in Education
REVIEW
Singleton lays out three critical factors needed to begin conversations: passion, practice, and persistence. Passion to overcome institutional inertia, the practice of effectively educating each student to their full potential, and persistence to stick with new/evolving practices even if results are slow in coming or there is a resistance to change. These factors are then used to frame what Singleton refers to as the six conditions (getting personal, keeping the spotlight on race, engaging multiple racial perspectives, keeping us all at the table, what do you 
really mean by “race,” and let’s talk about whiteness) needed to engage the community in conversation, sustain the conversation, and then deepen the conversation before moving on to talk about how all of these things are tied to the history of race in education. Each section of the book contains exercises and prompts to help the reader better understand material and think about how they can apply it to their classroom or meeting room.
Singleton closes his book with a vision of equity that involves an environment where educators believe in their students, have a steadfast resolve to remove barriers for students like harmful stereotypes, greet students by name and speak to them, and maintain a rigorous and challenging curriculum. There is an emphasis on relationship building as that leads to engagement and deep learning. It also creates an environment where students are encouraged to reach high and are supported to succeed.
APPLICATION
The information, exercises, and prompts can be used in any classroom, meeting room, or office on campus with slight modifications.
CONNECTED RESOURCES TO EXPLORE
