Toward Liberation: Educational Practices Rooted in Activism, Healing and Love

(Paperback)

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An essential guide for frontline educators to address systemic racial oppression, repair harm, and foster safe, inclusive learning spaces for their students For educators and readers of Bettina Love's We Want to Do More Than Survive, with a foreword by Leigh Patel, author of No Study Without Struggle Toward Liberation is the timely and practical guide that pioneers new pathways for educators to repair harm and foster transformative learning spaces. This road map for liberatory pedagogy is replete with resources, tools, and strategies drawn from Jamilah Pitts's experiences as a young Black girl, a Black student, a teacher, a former school leader, and a consultant with schools across the country. Educators will want to mark up and keep their copy of Toward Liberation at their desks for easy reference. In its pages, they will find Real-life examples and student writing from Pitts's classroomExplorative questions for teachers to consider in their equity workConstructive charts that map out manifestations of harmActivities to engage students in liberatory learningHealing and self-care strategies for teachers-particularly Black women educators Pitts infuses her writing with an extensive knowledge base of the education system, honed over years as a teacher, a coach, a dean, an assistant principal, and a national education consultant. The tenets of this book-rooted in truthtelling, activism, healing, wellness, self-care, and, ultimately, love- both inform and are inspired by the healing work Pitts does with educators to this day. In doing this work, she helps to reimagine the role of the critical teacher. Toward Liberation equips teachers with the tools they need to carve a path toward liberatory educational practices, ensuring that students are afforded the full range of their humanity and their experience, in and out of the classroom.

Reviews

This book is a love letter to truth-telling, justice, and healing. Deeply sitting with each chapter, activity, and reflection question inside Toward Liberation makes each of us closer to creating classrooms for liberation.
Bettina L. Love, author of We Want to Do More Than Survive

Jamilah has created a pathway for educators to begin our healing journey while transforming curriculum, teaching, and the lives of the children and communities we serve. Read this book to understand what it means to be a truth-teller working for liberation. Read this book to be reminded of being a truth-seeker whose praxis is rooted in love.
Sonja Cherry-Paul, adapter of Stamped (For Kids): Racism, Antiracism, and You

Toward Liberation: Educational Practices Rooted in Activism, Healing, and Love is a timely and personal text that champions the urgent need for anti-racist education in our society. Through thought-provoking insights from her own educational journey as a classroom teacher and administrator, as well as exploring history and actionable strategies, Jamilah Pitts equips educators with the tools needed to cultivate inclusive and sustainable environments and foster a more just and equitable future for our youth.
Liz Kleinrock, author of Start Here, Start Now: A Guide to Antibias and Antiracist Work in Your School Community

Author Bio

Jamilah Pitts is an educator, social entrepreneur, writer, and yoga teacher whose work centers the liberation, healing, and holistic development of communities of color. Jamilah has worked and served in various roles and spaces to promote racial justice and healing. She is the Founder and CEO of Jamilah Pitts Consulting and she is also the Founder of_x202F_ She, Imprints. Jamilah has served as a teacher, coach, dean, and as an assistant principal. She has worked in domestic and international educational spaces, including Massachusetts, New York, the Dominican Republic, China and India.