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

Publication date:

14 September 2016

Length of book:

236 pages

Publisher

Lexington Books

Dimensions:

239x158mm
6x9"

ISBN-13: 9781498517102

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

Centering Women of Color in Academic Counterspaces gives us what we have craved in academe — the voices, thoughts, and perspectives — of women students of color — ’sisters” — as they make their way through the college curriculum and college itself, finding a unique place to call home.