Minding (Disciplinary) Power and Privilege in the Classroom

Every discipline has a history. Most were professionalized in the late 19th century, as the country continued an ideological and legislative civil war that yielded decades of racial segregation and white supremacist violence (and “science”). Understanding the history of our disciplines and how that history manifests in its foundational texts, intellectual forebears, and current syllabi content and outcomes is an important first component of implementing equity, diversity, and inclusion in our classrooms.

Interested in exploring other teaching and technology strategies?

For pedagogical guidance and consultation, email ctl@bu.edu. For technology support and consultation, email askedtech@bu.edu.

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Paula Austin

pcaustin@bu.edu

Paula C. Austin is a U.S. historian with a focus on African American history, the history of race and racism, visual culture, urban, education, and women’s history, the history of social science, and the history of childhood. She is particularly interested in interiority and broadening…Read More

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Paula Austin

pcaustin@bu.edu

Paula C. Austin is a U.S. historian with a focus on African American history, the history of race and racism, visual culture, urban, education, and women’s history, the history of social science, and the history of childhood. She is particularly interested in interiority and broadening the narrow definitions of intellectual history. Her book, Coming of Age in Jim Crow DC: Navigating the Politics of Everyday Life (NYU Press, 2019) is a social and intellectual history of poor and working class young black people in early twentieth century, racially segregated Washington, D.C.