We need to locate ourselves for students and parents by honestly and openly carrying “ . . . the weight of the history of interracial relations” and acknowledging the possibility that our judgment may be biased (naming the elephant in the room).
Research has shown that how you think about your race (in developing your racial identity) impacts your perspective on your ability to be successful in school and in life. Also, students of color are more likely to be engaged in the exploration of their racial identity than their white counterparts. In addition, teachers are going through their own stages of RCID and, therefore, need to be cognizant of how that affects their learning and teaching pedagogy, as well as how they respond to students of color who are trying to cope with issues encountered in their own RCID process. The potential disconnect is obvious. It’s even a bit scary; in terms of the potentially crucial role they play in helping a student achieve.
