The Racial Contract and white saviorism: centering racism’s role in undermining housing and education equity

Abstract

ABSTRACT Homelessness disproportionately impacts communities of color. The Racial Contract is employed to examine and understand the limited influence of educational, and social policies/practices that were developed to combat and/or ameliorate housing instability among students and communities of color experiencing homelessness. The White-Savior Industrial Complex is incorporated to account for the dispositions and/or approaches taken by many white teachers and human service professionals; specifically aiming to illuminate the ways in which many teachers and human service providers perceive, treat, and respond to students and families of color experiencing housing instability. To more appropriately address the racial inequities negatively impacting students, families and communities of color experiencing housing instability, a disruption or voiding of the Racial Contract via structural, curricular, and relational systems/social agreements are necessary.