Unconscious Bias in Schools (Revised Edition)

A Developmental Approach to Exploring Race and Racism

By: Tracey A. Benson, Sarah E. Fiarman, Glenn E. Singleton - foreword

Narrated by: Leon Nixon

Length: 7 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's summary

In Unconscious Bias in Schools, two seasoned educators describe the phenomenon of unconscious racial bias and how it negatively affects the work of educators and students in schools. In order to address this bias, the authors argue, educators must first be aware of the racialized context in which we live.

Unconscious Bias in Schools provides education leaders with an essential road map for addressing these issues directly. The authors draw on the literature on change management, leadership, critical race theory, and racial identity development, as well as the growing research on unconscious bias in a variety of fields, to provide guidance for creating the conditions necessary to do this work - awareness, trust, and a "learner's stance". Benson and Fiarman also outline specific steps toward normalizing conversations about race; reducing the influence of bias on decision-making; building empathic relationships; and developing a system of accountability.

All too often, conversations about race become mired in questions of attitude or intention - "But I'm not a racist!" This book shows how information about unconscious bias can help shift conversations among educators to a more productive, collegial approach that has the potential to disrupt the patterns of perception that perpetuate racism and institutional injustice.

©2020 The President and Fellows of Harvard College (P)2021 Tantor

Perfectly challenging and empowering

I learned that doing nothing is contributing to cycles of oppression. I learned to expect to feel uncomfortable. I learned to accept non-closure. I learned that it’s OK to make mistakes to learn from them as you go. Highly recommend this book.