The Spirit of Our Work: Black Women Teachers (Re)member

by Cynthia Dillard

An exploration of how engaging identity and cultural heritage can transform teaching and learning for Black women educators in the name of justice and freedom in the classroom

In The Spirit of Our Work , Dr. Cynthia Dillard centers the spiritual lives of Black women educators and their students, arguing that spirituality has guided Black people throughout the diaspora. She demonstrates how Black women teachers and teacher educators can heal, resist, and (re)member their identities in ways that are empowering for them and their students. Dillard emphasizes that any discussion of Black teachers’ lives and work cannot be limited to truncated identities as enslaved persons in the Americas.

The Spirit of Our Work addresses questions that remain largely invisible in what is known about teaching and teacher education. According to Dillard, this invisibility renders the powerful approaches to Black education that are imbodied and marshaled by Black women teachers unknown and largely unavailable to inform policy, practice, and theory in education. The Spirit of Our Work highlights how the intersectional identities of Black women teachers matter in teaching and learning and how educational settings might more carefully and conscientiously curate structures of support that pay explicit and necessary attention to spirituality as a crucial consideration.

Genres: Education, History, Race, Womens, Nonfiction, Teaching

240 pages, Paperback

Published August 16, 2022

Reviews

[Vicki Tillman · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I was an advisor to education majors, I'd make this required reading. Empowering for black teachers, perspective taking for others. Excellent audiobook production, as well.

[Luis Cuesta · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book as a Goodreads Giveaway. Cynthia Dillard centers her book on the spiritual lives of Black women educators and their students. She highlights how the intersectional identities of Black women teachers matter in teaching and learning and how educational settings might more carefully and conscientiously curate structures of support that pay explicit and necessary attention to spirituality as a crucial consideration. "The Spirit of Our Work" (re)presents both old and new understanding of Blackness with clarity regarding universally human themes.
I see it as good book for all who teach and for all who learn, because it offers a brilliant roadmap for creating learning spaces in which we welcome and celebrate the fullness of our shared and expansive humanity and diversity.

[Kate Schwarz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to this book to learn more about her, as I am a graduate student at Seattle University and she was just named Dean of the School of Education. It is an inspiring book about the trip to Ghana Dr Dillard has created for Black female teachers to reconnect them to their roots and center their teaching practices. As a white female teacher, I still got a lot out of this book. Specifically, I was reminded of the small and large effects of racism on Black teachers—AND Black students. I was reminded of the importance of including Black joy in my future lessons (Dr Bettina Love’s book speaks more to this), and I appreciated the reflection questions posed at the end of this book.

[Ellice Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally finished this treat of a book. So needed for all educators especially black women. Major theme remembering our ancestry while creating sanctuary and reverence of black culture for students. And always continually learning and remembering. 10/10

[Alisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent work that validates the sacred calling of caring for community and the application of cultural, spiritual tools of our Mothers and Ancestors.