Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents

Abstract

intellectual. While reading Sleeter and Zavala’s work, I was reminded of my conflict as a young student who wanted to know more about Black women in history, literature, and science; however, I was unclear where to find materials in school that taught me about women from a similar cultural identity. Often, when such curriculum was introduced during Black History month, the stories and experiences were taught to me with a deficit lens that further minoritized my identity. This book rehumanizes education for students similar to me and suggests that educators honor the epistemic knowledge each student brings to class. The goal of ethnic studies, which is to rehumanize education, problematize Eurocentrism, and build community, can be achieved by participatory research, self-reflection, student intellectualism, and community collaboration. Teachers, teacher educators, students, and activists will benefit from the research provided in the book that characterizes ethnic studies pedagogy and curriculum. The groups mentioned will further benefit from learning to challenge a myopic view that is often presented in U.S. schools. In addition to the abovementioned contributions, researchers, teachers, and activists receive a revitalized call-to-action that is valuable for ethnic studies as scholarship and a movement. U.S. society, by reading Transformative Ethnic Studies in Schools: Curriculum, Pedagogy, and Research by Sleeter and Zavala (2020), should be able to notice that an uncontested dominant cultural lens impedes progression of social and formal education. Moving forward in education, people of color and their communities should benefit from amplification of their cultures and identities, which should be advocated for in ethnic studies in schools. Consuming the research along with student perspectives gives a personal reminder for pursuing ethnic studies as a culturally sustaining way to provide a safe and inspirational learning environment for all students. To order a copy of Transformative ethnic studies in schools: Curriculum, pedagogy, and research, contact Teachers College Press, P.O. Box 20, Williston, VT 04595-0020. Tel: 1-800-575-6566. Fax: 1-802864-7626. Web site: http://www.teacherscollegepress. com/index.html.