Every school subject has a racist past.

Education is at a fundamental crossroads, with calls echoing for it to modernize and to cater to the evolving landscape of information and interaction that young people navigate daily. The present moment demands a shift in educational practices to foster not only academic competence but a deeper understanding and respect for racial and cultural diversity.

Every school subject is implicated in the project of racism. Literature courses prioritize narratives centered around whiteness, excluding stories from the rest of us. Math has been historically implicated in racism—consider the fractional math used to codify dehumanization during slavery (3/5 a human, anyone?). In science, false hierarchical categorizations of human beings have been used to justify inequality and racism. Even geography has been tainted by practices such as redlining, which are steeped in racism. Each example underscores the pernicious and subtle ways racist ideologies have been weaved into the very fabric of education.

This historical backdrop sets the stage for a larger conversation centered on the transformation needed in teaching methodologies. With over 27 million students of color in US public schools, traditional forms of education are no longer enough. The 'what', 'how', and 'why' of teaching needs a thorough overhaul. The traditional curriculum must be challenged to become more inclusive, relevant, and responsive to the dynamic and diverse reality of student classrooms in 2024.

As we look ahead, it becomes increasingly clear that educators have a tremendous responsibility and opportunity to dismantle systemic racism through intentional and thoughtful changes to curriculum and pedagogy. Schools must become safe spaces for all students to learn—not only about the world around them but also about themselves and each other, free from the shadows of historical biases.

I talk about all of this and more in The Antiracist Teacher Course. Go grab your seat and do this work in community with others.