Not Light, but Fire: How to Lead Meaningful Race Conversations in the Classroom

by Matthew Kay

Overview

Do you know how to initiate and facilitate productive dialogues about race in your classroom? Are you prepared to handle complex topics while keeping your students engaged? Inspired by Frederick Douglass's abolitionist call to action, it is not light that is needed, but fire-, author Matthew Kay demonstrateshow to move beyond surface-level discussionsand lead students through the most difficult race conversations. In Not Light, But Fire: How to Lead Meaningful Race Conversations in the Classroom, Kay recognizes we often never graduate to the harder conversations,so he offers a method for getting them right, providing candid guidance on: How torecognize the difference between meaningful and inconsequential race conversations.How tobuild conversational safe spaces,- not merely declare them.How toinfuse race conversations with urgency and purpose.How tothrive in the face of unexpected challenges.How administrators mightequip teachers to thoughtfully engage in these conversations.With the right blend of reflection and humility, Kay assertsteachers can make school one of the best venues for young people to discuss race.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781625310989
Publisher:	Stenhouse Publishers
Publication date:	07/16/2018
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	278
Sales rank:	133,294
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.70(d)
Age Range:	11 - 17 Years

About the Author

Matthew R. Kay is a proud product of Philadelphia’s public schools and a founding teacher at Science Leadership Academy (SLA). He is a graduate of West Chester University and holds a Masters in Educational Leadership with a Principals’ Certificate from California University of Pennsylvania.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments ix

Introduction-Not Light, but Fire: The Case for Meaningful Conversations 1

Part 1 The Ecosystem

Chapter 1 Demystifying the "Safe Space" 14

Chapter 2 Developing Your "Talking Game" 39

Chapter 3 Structuring Your Dialogic Curriculum 62

Chapter 4 Establishing Your Purpose 113

Part 2 A Study of Conversations

Chapter 5 The N-Word: Facing It Head-On 146

Chapter 6 "Say It Right": Unpacking the Cultural Significance of Names 170

Chapter 7 Playing the Other: Thoughtfully Tackling Cultural Appropriation 200

Chapter 8 Pop-Up Conversations: Lessons from the 2016 Presidential Election 241

Epilogue 260

References 271

Index 275

Editorial Reviews

A reminder to educators to not sidestep or oversimplify conversations about race, but to engage students in them as scholars with voices and experiences that are just as important as those of the adult in the classroom. I’m in love with Matthew’s book. He writes with clarity, passion, and backs up everything he says with experiences or history that hits you right in the chest. As an educator in the world today, we owe it to our students to listen to what Matthew Kay has to say. This is the book we need to shift the "tried and tired" practice of touting empty rhetoric about race to a practice that puts us firmly on a pathway toward achieving racial equity. Matt is a master facilitator and shares the tools every teacher needs to hone their practice to make conversations about race commonplace. Thoughtful, timely, and beautifully written. I found myself thinking, "How different would the field of education be if Matt Kay had advised John Dewey? How different would I be if Matt Kay had been my teacher?" The answer: radically so. He is that important, and his work on race is that essential.

From the Publisher

This is the book we need to shift the "tried and tired" practice of touting empty rhetoric about race to a practice that puts us firmly on a pathway toward achieving racial equity. Matt is a master facilitator and shares the tools every teacher needs to hone their practice to make conversations about race commonplace.

Sonja Cherry-Paul

I’m in love with Matthew’s book. He writes with clarity, passion, and backs up everything he says with experiences or history that hits you right in the chest. As an educator in the world today, we owe it to our students to listen to what Matthew Kay has to say.

Teach Me, Teacher Podcast - Jacob Chastain

Thoughtful, timely, and beautifully written.

Kelly Gallagher

A reminder to educators to not sidestep or oversimplify conversations about race, but to engage students in them as scholars with voices and experiences that are just as important as those of the adult in the classroom.

Teaching Tolerance - Erika Smith

I found myself thinking, "How different would the field of education be if Matt Kay had advised John Dewey? How different would I be if Matt Kay had been my teacher?" The answer: radically so. He is that important, and his work on race is that essential.

Cornelius Minor