I Heard What You Said: A Black Teacher, A White System

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A thought-provoking and fearless exploration of how we can dismantle racism in the classroom and do better by all our students. An Amazon Best Non-Fiction Book of 2022 'Essential reading' - The Guardian 'Sharp and witty with moments of startling candour' - The i 'Revealing and beautifully written' - David Harewood _____ Before Jeffrey Boakye was a black teacher, he was a black student. Which means he has spent a lifetime navigating places of learning that are white by default. Since training to teach, he has often been the only black teacher at school. At times seen as a role model, at others a source of curiosity, Boakye's is a journey of exploration - from the outside looking in. In the groundbreaking I Heard What You Said, he recounts how it feels to be on the margins of the British education system. As a black, male teacher - an English teacher who has had to teach problematic texts - his very existence is a provocation to the status quo, giving him a unique perspective on the UK's classrooms. Told through a series of eye-opening encounters based on the often challenging and sometimes outrageous things people have said to him or about him - from 'Can you rap' and 'Have you been in prison' to 'Stephen who' - Boakye reflects with passion and wit on what he has found out about the presumptions, silences and distortions that underpin the experience of black students and teachers. _____ 'Hugely important' - Baroness Lawrence 'Deeply compelling, intellectually rigorous and essential' - Nels Abbey 'Makes a powerful case' - Rt Hon Lady Hale

Reviews

Essential reading . . . perhaps most of all for those Black children who may be currently going through school not realising why they are made to feel small, out of step and unworthy. For them in particular, it could be a ray of hope. * The Guardian *
I Heard What You Said makes a powerful case: until we have rid our educational system of its dominant whiteness we cannot hope to give all our children the educational experience they need and deserve. * Rt Hon Lady Hale *
Revealing and beautifully written. * David Harewood *
Written with passion, fury, knowledge and, in spite of the painful subject, wit. Do you want to break down entrenched structural racism in schools Then read this. * Patrice Lawrence MBE, prize-winning author of Orangeboy *
Sharp and witty with moments of startling candour. * The i *
Deeply compelling, intellectually rigorous and essential . . . The more people read this book, the better our education system will be understood. * Nels Abbey, author of Think Like a White Man *
A riveting account . . . Rich with entertaining anecdotes. * Caroline Sanderson, The Bookseller *
Personal and political, profound and playful, Boakye's sharp analysis of the classroom and the staffroom is essential reading. * Darren Chetty, co-author of How to Disagree *
The book Ive been waiting for and the book every teacher should read. Brave, brutally honest, funny and necessary. * Ben Lindsay, author of We Need To Talk About Race *
I couldn't put it down . . . a must read. * Laura Henry-Allain MBE *
An incredibly powerful, gripping book . . . It's simultaneously energising, uplifting and optimistic and eye-opening and challenging. * Tom Sherrington (@teacherhead) *
I found myself being educated, delighted, saddened, informed, surprised, shocked, touched and enlightened in turn . . . A must-read book. * Sue Cowley, author, presenter, teacher *
A signature blend of endearing wit and engaging prose. * K. DeMi Ryans *
Timely and thought provoking. * Leninna Ofori (@healingoverhandbags) *
An impassioned, articulate, and irresistible call to arms. * SchoolsWeek *

Author Bio

Jeffrey Boakye is an author, broadcaster, educator and journalist with a particular interest in issues surrounding race, masculinity, education and popular culture. Originally from Brixton in London, Jeffrey has taught secondary English for fifteen years. He is a senior teaching fellow at the University of Manchester and has been awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Leicester. Jeffrey's books include Hold Tight: Black Masculinity, Millennials and the Meaning of Grime; Black, Listed: Black British Culture Explored; What is Masculinity Why Does it Matter And Other Big Questions; Musical Truth: A Musical Journey Through Modern Black Britain and Kofi and the Rap Battle Summer. He is also the co-presenter of BBC Radio 4's double award-winning Add to Playlist. He now lives in Yorkshire with his wife and two sons.