Centering Women of Color in Academic Counterspaces

A Critical Race Analysis of Teaching, Learning, and Classroom Dynamics

By (author) Annemarie Vaccaro, Melissa J. Camba-Kelsay

Not available to order

Publication date:

14 September 2016

Length of book:

236 pages

Publisher

Lexington Books

ISBN-13: 9781498517119

Centering Women of Color in Academic Counterspaces offers a rich critical race feminist analysis of teaching, learning, and classroom dynamics among diverse students in a classroom counterspace centered on women of color. Annemarie Vaccaro and Melissa J. Camba-Kelsay focus on an undergraduate course called Sister Stories, which used counter-storytelling to explore the historical and contemporary experiences of women of color in the United States. Rich student narratives offer insight into the process and products of transformational learning about complex social justice topics such as: oppression, microaggressions, identity, intersectionality, tokenism, objectification, inclusive leadership, aesthetic standards, and diversity dialogues.

Table of Contents

Series Foreword
Acknowledgements
Preface
Introduction
Chapter 1: Sister Stories: “Not your typical class.
Chapter 2: Microaggressions on Campus: “We still have a long way to go.”
Chapter 3: What Are Counterspaces and Why Do We Need Them?: “It’s a refuge on campus.”
Chapter 4: Student Interactions in a Counterspace: “It’s complicated.”
Chapter 5: Silence and Self-Censoring: “Telling my story, or not.”
Chapter 6: Learning about Identity: “Who Am I?”
Chapter 7: My Body, My Looks: “I’m never gonna look like that.”
Chapter 8: Becoming an Inclusive Leader: “Everyone has a voice.”
Conclusion
Appendix
About the Authors

Vaccaro and Camba-Kelsay highlight the often-silenced voices of women of color on predominantly white campuses through the exploration of their Sister Stories course, a unique class that provides a safe and inviting space for women of color. This work is a wonderful example of professor-led, university classroom-based research that provides tangible solutions to help empower women of color on university campuses.