Teachers of Color: Resisting Racism and Reclaiming Education

by Rita Kohli, H. Richard Milner IV (Series Editor), Daniel G. Solórzano (Foreword)

AERA Division K's 2023 Exemplary Research in Teaching and Teacher Education Award​

Teachers of Color describes how racism serves as a continuous barrier against diversifying the teaching force and offers tools to support educators who identify as Black, Indigenous, or people of Color on both a systemic and interpersonal level. Based on in-depth interviews, digital narratives, and questionnaires, the book analyzes the toll of racism on their professional experiences and personal well-being, as well as their resistance and reimagination of schools.

Teacher educator and educational researcher Rita Kohli documents the hostile racial climate that teachers of color experience over the course of their academic and professional lives—first as students and preservice teachers and later in their classrooms and schools. She also highlights the tools of resistance these teachers employ to challenge institutionalized oppression and the kinds of professional development and support they need to thrive.

Analyzed through the lens of critical race theory, Teachers of Color exposes the ongoing racialization via counterstories from thirty racially, geographically, and professionally diverse educators. The book concludes with recommendations that various education stakeholders can employ to improve the racial climates of schools and support the growing diversity of the teaching force.

At this critical moment, Kohli offers readers an opportunity to strengthen their racial literacies and better understand the strengths, struggles, and power of teachers of Color.

Genres: Education, Teaching, Nonfiction

200 pages, Paperback

Published June 1, 2021

Reviews

[Pete · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly recommend this to teachers of Color *and* white teachers—all of whom would benefit from how Dr. Kohli breaks down the many ways that racism operates in schools, and how it can be resisted.

[Diana Lebeaux · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would strongly recommend this book to anyone working in an educational organization or district who wonders why we don’t have more teachers of color as well as anyone more deeply committed to elevating the voices of BIPOC educators.

[Ari Robin McKenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

A powerfully organized selection of 30 'counterstories' that gradually paints a picture of how stark the problem of retaining teachers of color is, and then develops a roadmap to do just that.

[Regena · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic, powerful read that provides an important look at the working conditions Teachers of Color face, and begins to think about how to make schools a more supportive place for these teachers.

[Jess 🐛 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rita is a genius and this book is exactly what everyone needs to hear.