The new one-drop rule: challenging the persistence of white supremacy with in-service teachers. Issue 4 (2nd October 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Blaisdell, Benjamin
• Is Part Of: Teaching education. Volume 29:Issue 4(2018)
• Page Start: 330
• Page End: 342
• Publication Date: 2018-10-02
• Subjects: Racial literacy -- white discourse -- critical race theory (CRT); Teachers -- Training of -- Periodicals; 370.11
• DOI: 10.1080/10476210.2018.1505841
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1047-6210

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The one-drop rule refers to the process of being racialized Black when someone contains any amount of Black ancestry, i.e. one drop of Black blood. In this article, I use what I call 'the new one-drop rule' to explain how even the smallest presence of white discourse can disrupt racial equity work in schools. Based on a critical race study in a racially desegregated elementary school, I illustrate how one drop of white discourse from even one less racially literate white teacher can cause usually more racially literate white teachers to support white supremacy. I also share how collaborative research utilizing critical race theory (CRT) can help schools build greater racial literacy and resist white discourse. I argue that critical research on race with in-service teachers should not forefront the consciousness-raising of resistant white teachers but rather center the wants, needs, and racial knowledge of racially literate teachers and especially teachers of color.