Chapter 5: When Keeping It Real Goes Wrong: Race Talk, Racial Blunders, and Redemption

Race talk refers to public exchanges that attempt to negotiate the varied meanings associated with the concept of race. Many scholars have called for more preparation and support for social studies teachers as facilitators of race talk. In this chapter, the authors review some of social studies teachers’ fears when engaging in race talkߞspecifically, the fear that they might commit a racial blunder. Rather than avoiding racial blunders by silencing race talk, the authors respond to these fears by recommending principles from Black feminist theory and educational psychology that encourage teachers to anticipate and embrace racial blunders as an important part of teacher-student relationships, and as key elements of psychologically safe classroom environments. Case study vignettes of practicing teachers’ stories about committing and recovering from racial blunders are included.