Rethinking Multicultural Education: Teaching for Racial and Cultural Justice

Moving beyond a simplistic focus on heroes and holidays, foods and festivals, Rethinking Multicultural Education demonstrates a powerful vision of anti-racist social justice education. Practical, rich in story, and analytically sharp, Rethinking Multicultural Education reclaims multicultural education as part of a larger struggle for justice and against racism, colonizatio Moving beyond a simplistic focus on heroes and holidays, foods and festivals, Rethinking Multicultural Education demonstrates a powerful vision of anti-racist social justice education. Practical, rich in story, and analytically sharp, Rethinking Multicultural Education reclaims multicultural education as part of a larger struggle for justice and against racism, colonization, and cultural oppression-in schools and society. The book features 40 chapters, split into 4 sections: Anti-Racist Orientations; Language, Culture, and Power; Transnational Identities; Multicultural Classrooms; and Confronting Racism in the Classroom. Winner of the 2010 Skipping Stones Honor Award.

30 review for Rethinking Multicultural Education: Teaching for Racial and Cultural Justice

4 out of 5

Leif Kurth – Feb 16, 2016

Brilliant book for anyone interested in education, at any level/age group. The shared stories and essays on what works, didn't work, why, how, and where to go for help, is amazing. The numerous educators who shared their insights, their life work, and their passion for providing the best possible learning environments/curriculum for their students, are emblematic of so many others in the profession. Ethnicity (the idea of race) is front and center throughout. Whether discussing opportunity and a Brilliant book for anyone interested in education, at any level/age group. The shared stories and essays on what works, didn't work, why, how, and where to go for help, is amazing. The numerous educators who shared their insights, their life work, and their passion for providing the best possible learning environments/curriculum for their students, are emblematic of so many others in the profession. Ethnicity (the idea of race) is front and center throughout. Whether discussing opportunity and access, language, power, culture, politics, economics, or historical realities, the authors presented vivid portraits of how the lessons forced students to think in new ways (creatively & critically) and question previous learning. This collection of works should be required reading for every teacher (and administrator), regardless of who or where they teach.
4 out of 5

Kaylee – Aug 15, 2019

I can’t believe how much I needed this book. I have never been so glad to be assigned a book to read for an assignment. It was eye opening and touched upon diversity that ranged from race, ethnicity, linguistics, curriculum, socioeconomics etc. I highly recommend this for ALL teachers, and even those who are not going into the education field too!
4 out of 5

Jonathan Haack – Apr 12, 2013

I truly enjoyed the articles and journals in this compilation, however, it was decidely one sided. The author should contact the Hoover Institution and would be presenting a more realistic view of multicultural education thereby ...
4 out of 5

Rebecca Zavala – Jul 13, 2019

Read it cause I had to, not because I chose it from a shelf. Not bad. Essays. For me, common knowledge.
4 out of 5

Beckie – Jun 03, 2017

Read for a grad school class and I actually enjoyed most of the articles.
5 out of 5

Monica – Feb 18, 2020

Fantastic resource for teachers!
5 out of 5

Keith Wilson – Oct 11, 2020

Meh.
4 out of 5

Hali Scholl – Apr 25, 2020

Anyone and everyone working in education or with children should read this book. It’s a collection of essays and stories that are individually quick reads.
5 out of 5

Jennifer – Sep 15, 2017

So I've updated my rating... true some of these articles repeat the same theme or ramble a bit too long, but overall I'm still rethinking and updating my perspective on how I've been taught and how I'll continue to educate so well worth the investment. So I've updated my rating... true some of these articles repeat the same theme or ramble a bit too long, but overall I'm still rethinking and updating my perspective on how I've been taught and how I'll continue to educate so well worth the investment.
4 out of 5

Bethany – Dec 14, 2011

Rethinking Schools Ltd. is a nonprofit, independant publishing company that seeks to publish and produce educational literature and resources that focus on issues of racial and cultural justice. Rethinking Multiculural Education, is a thoughtful collection of essays and articles, edited by Wayne Au, which seek to present the many views and options about multicultural education, explain why it’s an important topic for reflection, and give practical advice for how teachers can begin promoting mult Rethinking Schools Ltd. is a nonprofit, independant publishing company that seeks to publish and produce educational literature and resources that focus on issues of racial and cultural justice. Rethinking Multiculural Education, is a thoughtful collection of essays and articles, edited by Wayne Au, which seek to present the many views and options about multicultural education, explain why it’s an important topic for reflection, and give practical advice for how teachers can begin promoting multicultural education in their classrooms and schools. Au argues that the definition of multicultural education has not been fully explored or embraced by educators and needs a more thoughtful approach in order to fully integrate and benefit from the diversity of students who are within our educational system. Multiculural education is more then celebrating a culture by teaching about its history, or enjoying traditional food and holidays. Instead it is “part of a larger, more serious struggle for social justice…anti-systematic racism, colinalization, and cultural oppression.” (p. 3).
4 out of 5

Amy – Sep 14, 2011

this book, really a series of articles about multicultural education, though quite redundant at times, was actually a wonderful take on the considerations that we need take when designing educational programs. In a country where we do not want to leave children at the starting gate, where we hyper-structure everything to fit into a series of standardized tests, are we really doing what we are intending, or rather crippling the children who these very programs are designed to help?
4 out of 5

Jen – Mar 21, 2014

Read for Diversity in Education class. I thought it was an interesting mix of articles that pushed hard in areas that need pushing. At the same time, I believe everything needs to be taken with a grain of salt, because the authors did have an agenda.
4 out of 5

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