Backpack of Whiteness: Releasing the Weight to Free Myself and My Students. (July 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: McCormack, Shashray
• Other Names: Yoon Haeny S guest-editor.; Myers Michele guest-editor.; Volk Dinah guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: Urban education. Volume 55:Number 6(2020)
• Page Start: 937
• Page End: 962
• Publication Date: 2020-07
• Subjects: race -- identity -- elementary school -- programs -- kindergarten -- cultural responsiveness -- social -- racism -- social -- anti-racist -- subjects -- culturally relevant pedagogy -- teachers of color -- White teachers -- urban education; Education, Urban -- Periodicals; Enseignement en milieu urbain -- Périodiques; Éducation; Milieu urbain; Périodique électronique (Descripteur de forme); Ressource Internet (Descripteur de forme); 370.91732
• DOI: 10.1177/0042085919892035
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0042-0859

Abstract

This essay decenters whiteness and centers who I am as a Black teacher weighed down by boulders representing the dominance of whiteness and internalized racism as well as the institutional and social systems within which I dwell. Slowly, I release them through partnerships, "remembered" histories, "re-righted" curriculum, and confidence in self-worth. While I write about degradation, marginalization, disrespect, and omission of my Blackness in relationships with universities, I also write about supportive partnerships with Professional Dyads of Culturally Relevant Teaching (PDCRT) Colleagues of Color, administrators, and students emphasizing that, at the end of the day, the partner I must hold onto first is me.