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Resources to Learn About and Apply Antiracist Pedagogy

by Naashia Mohamed |

The premise of Ibram X Kendi’s award-winning book How to Be an AntiRacist is a simple one: to claim that one is “not racist” is not enough; to be a true opponent of racism, one has to identify as an antiracist. Though racists believe that certain racial groups are better or worse than others, Kendi argues that antiracists view all racial groups as being equal and work toward promoting that equality. There is no neutral middle ground between two ideologies. To claim that you are “not racist” is to take a passive route to endorsing racism.

What does the concept of antiracism mean for educators? Alda Blakeney describes antiracist pedagogy as a paradigm located within critical theory that can be used  “to  explain  and  counteract  the  persistence  and  impact  of  racism  using praxis as its focus to promote social justice for the creation of a democratic society in every respect.” Because our classrooms are more racially, ethnically, culturally, and linguistically diverse than ever, educators must have the knowledge and skills to effectively challenge racism in their teaching contexts and empower students to develop critical consciousness. Here are some resources to help us understand and apply antiracism in our teaching.

Critical Reflection

It is helpful to begin by engaging in vigilant self-awareness by unpacking our own perceptions and biases.

    • Take an Implicit Bias Test to help self-reflection or do this Anti-Racist Educator Self-Questionnaire.
    • Address your beliefs about teaching racially and ethically diverse students through this survey, which could be done independently or collectively as part of a professional development session.
    • This set of Racial Equity tools from the Centre for Urban Education are aimed at higher education faculty, staff, and leaders to reflect on racialised characteristics of everyday practices and collectively bring about change.
    • For educators in higher education, here are five questions to ask yourself about whether your institution is racist.

Key Readings

Educate yourself by reading key texts:

Comprehensive Online Toolkits

    • The Anti-Racist Educator is an excellent website developed by a collective of educational stakeholders based in Scotland.
    • Anna Freud, a mental health charity, offers practical resources that focus on antiracism and mental health in schools.
    • Racial Equity Tools is a wealth of resources to support everyone working toward achieving racial equity.
    • Unteach Racism, based in New Zealand, empowers teachers to unlearn racism and guide others to do the same.

Talks and Podcasts

Curriculum and Pedagogy


*Post updated 9 May 2024

About the author

Naashia Mohamed

Naashia Mohamed is a Senior Lecturer of TESOL at the University of Auckland, New Zealand. Her work in teacher education focuses on addressing the needs of language learners in schools and considers how school policies and practices can reduce the educational gaps faced by immigrant children and youth. Naashia has published in journals such as TESOL Quarterly, Current Issues in Language Planning, International Journal for Lesson and Learning Studies, and ELT Journal. Her research addresses issues of identity, power, and equity in language education policy and practice.

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