WASHINGTON—American University’s annual Summit Institute on Education Equity and Justice drew in dozens of community members—particularly educators—who wanted to share best practices that lead to equitable outcomes for underserved students, families and communities.
Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, an award-winning author, professor and founding director of the Antiracist Research and Policy Center at AU was the keynote speaker at the daylong event held on Saturday.
This year’s theme focused on empowering boys and men of color to become critical scholars and intellectuals.
Kendi, who authored Stamped From the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America, which won numerous awards including the National Book Award, said that there is a long history of demonizing young men of color and treating them as troublemakers.
He urged anti-racist educators to focus on the individual and the causes behind rebellious behaviors.
“It is critical for anti-racist educators to not generalize the behavior,” said Kendi. “When we individualize the behavior, we say, ‘okay this is something happening to this individual. He is not a reflection of any other Black boys in the room, in the school, in the community, in the nation. He is a refection of himself.’”
Kendi said some educators perpetuate these racist ideas.
