Becoming And Unbecoming White

The authors of the narrative chapters represented in this volume have in common that they are dedicated to the realization of a critical, multicultural, democratic society. Individually, they are female and male, from diverse ethnicities, socio-economic class backgrounds, first language groups, religious and spiritual affiliations, and sexual orientations.

They are professors of education, psychology, sociology, and communication as well as community activists. The stories that they share reveal the history of racism in this country over a fifty year period beginning in the late 1930s and continuing into the early 1980s. The stories are most diverse, and share what it was like growing up White during and after Jim Crow segregation, the Civil Rights Movement, and busing and integration.

Thus, there is a history here of our country's racism yesterday and today. Inviting students to experience this history may encourage them to further explore its ongoing manifestations. Review: By engaging readers in a thoughtful analysis of Whiteness and its connection to critical and inclusive teaching, the authors in this book highlight both the transformative power and the potentially limiting nature of the discourse of Whiteness.

They remind us that, in the final analysis, our focus as teachers needs to be on students because all of them, but especially students of color, are put in jeopardy by an education that favors Whites over others in all aspects of schooling. By emphasizing the experiences and the analysis of educators coming to terms with becoming both White and anti-racist, Chris Clark and Jim O'Donnell provide a healthy and empowering model for all teachers of all backgrounds. -Sonia Nieto Professor, School of Education University of Massachusetts Amherst