Journal of Pedagogical Sociology and Psychology
Using culturally sustaining and revitalizing pedagogy in the composition classroom to engage students in critiquing supremacy culture
Heather Moulton 1 2 *
More Detail
1 Central Arizona College, United States
2 Prescott College, United States
* Corresponding Author
Open Access Full Text (PDF)
ARTICLE INFO

Journal of Pedagogical Sociology and Psychology, 2024 - Volume 6 Issue 3, pp. 79-94
https://doi.org/10.33902/jpsp.202424973

Article Type: Research Article

Published Online: 20 Jul 2024

Views: 759 | Downloads: 508

ABSTRACT
Incorporating texts that promote diverse voices and center critical thinking assignments on combatting white dominance and privilege is crucial to modern pedagogy and curricular development in community college composition classes. This paper suggests a way to help students understand issues of supremacy culture in education and society. The author developed a student-centric activity in English Composition 102: a survey to provoke discussion where students were asked to name American celebrities, authors, directors, inventors, artists, and athletes. The students named primarily white men in each category except celebrities and athletes. The celebrities’ category included relatively balanced ethnic, racial, and gender diversity; in the athletes’ category, students predominantly identified Black men (football and basketball stars). This paper considers the impetus and results of the assignment—including the pedagogies with which it aligns. Further, the author advocates for the presence of culturally sustaining and revitalizing pedagogy in community college composition curriculum, ideally by creating collaborative professional development workshops.     
KEYWORDS
In-text citation: (Moulton, 2024)
Reference: Moulton, H. (2024). Using culturally sustaining and revitalizing pedagogy in the composition classroom to engage students in critiquing supremacy culture. Journal of Pedagogical Sociology and Psychology, 6(3), 79-94. https://doi.org/10.33902/jpsp.202424973
In-text citation: (1), (2), (3), etc.
Reference: Moulton H. Using culturally sustaining and revitalizing pedagogy in the composition classroom to engage students in critiquing supremacy culture. Journal of Pedagogical Sociology and Psychology. 2024;6(3), 79-94. https://doi.org/10.33902/jpsp.202424973
In-text citation: (1), (2), (3), etc.
Reference: Moulton H. Using culturally sustaining and revitalizing pedagogy in the composition classroom to engage students in critiquing supremacy culture. Journal of Pedagogical Sociology and Psychology. 2024;6(3):79-94. https://doi.org/10.33902/jpsp.202424973
In-text citation: (Moulton, 2024)
Reference: Moulton, Heather. "Using culturally sustaining and revitalizing pedagogy in the composition classroom to engage students in critiquing supremacy culture". Journal of Pedagogical Sociology and Psychology 2024 6 no. 3 (2024): 79-94. https://doi.org/10.33902/jpsp.202424973
In-text citation: (Moulton, 2024)
Reference: Moulton, H. (2024). Using culturally sustaining and revitalizing pedagogy in the composition classroom to engage students in critiquing supremacy culture. Journal of Pedagogical Sociology and Psychology, 6(3), pp. 79-94. https://doi.org/10.33902/jpsp.202424973
In-text citation: (Moulton, 2024)
Reference: Moulton, Heather "Using culturally sustaining and revitalizing pedagogy in the composition classroom to engage students in critiquing supremacy culture". Journal of Pedagogical Sociology and Psychology, vol. 6, no. 3, 2024, pp. 79-94. https://doi.org/10.33902/jpsp.202424973
REFERENCES
  • Alim, H. S., & Paris, D. (2017).What is culturally sustaining pedagogy and why does it matter? In D. Paris & H. S. Alim (Eds.), Culturally Sustaining Pedagogies: Teaching and Learning for Justice in a Changing World (pp. 1-21). Teacher’s College Press.
  • Alim, H. S., Paris, D., & Wong, C. P. (2020). Culturally sustaining pedagogies: A critical framework for centering communities. In N. Suad Nasir, C. D. Lee, R. Pea, & M. Mckinney de Royston (Eds.), Handbook of the cultural foundations of learning (pp. 261–276). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203774977-18
  • Arce, M. S. (2016). Xicano/Indigenous epistemologies: Toward a decolonizing and liberatory education for Xicana/o youth. In D. M. Sandova, A. J. Ratcliff, T. Lachica Buenavista, & J. R. Marín (Eds.), “White” washing American education: The new culture wars in ethnic studies (pp. 11-41). Praeger.
  • Banks, J.A. (2022). Series Forward. In C. Pewewardy, A. Lees, and R. Zape-tah-hol-a Minthorn (Eds.), Unsettling settler-colonial education. The transformational Indigenous praxis model. (pp. ix.-xiii). Teachers College Press.
  • Brayboy, B. M. J., Gough, H. R., Leonard, B., Roehl II, R. F., & Solyom, J. A. (2012). Reclaiming scholarship: Critical Indigenous research methodologies. In S. D. Lapan, M. T. Quartaroli, & F. J. Reimer (Eds.), Qualitative research: An introduction to methods and design (pp. 423–450). San Francisco: John Wiley.
  • Brown, A. M. (2017). Emergent strategy: Shaping change, changing worlds. AK Press.
  • Cambridge Dictionary. (n.d.). Colonization - Revitalize. Author. https://dictionary.cambridge.org/
  • Chavez, F. R. (2021). The anti-racist writing workshop: How to decolonize the creative classroom. Haymarket Books.
  • Collins Online Dictionary. (n.d.). Revitalize. Author. https://www.collinsdictionary.com
  • Condon F. & Young, V. A. (2017). Performing antiracist pedagogy in rhetoric, writing, and communication. WAC Clearinghouse & University of Colorado Press. https://doi.org/10.37514/ATD-B.2016.0933
  • Delaney, T. (2007). Pop culture: An overview. Philosophy Now: A Magazine of Ideas. https://philosophynow.org/
  • Devos, T. & Banaji, M. (2005). American = White? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 88 (3), 447-466. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.88.3.447
  • Dictionary.com. (n.d.). Minoritize. Auhor. https://www.dictionary.com/browse/minoritize
  • Duncan-Andrade, J. M. R. (2022). Equality or equity: Toward a model of community-responsive education. Harvard Education Press.
  • Fernández, A. E. (2019). Decolonizing professional development: A re-humanizing approach. Equity & Excellence in Education, 52(2-3), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1080/10665684.2019.1649610
  • Fong, J. (2014, April 26). When this teacher’s ethnic studies classes were banned, his students took the district to court—and won. Yes Media. https://www.yesmagazine.org/
  • Freire, P. (1993). Pedagogy of the oppressed. Penguin.
  • Garcia, S. A. (2021). Contesting trauma and violence through indigeneity and a decolonizing pedagogy at Rio Hondo Community College. Journal of Latinos and Education, 20(4), 376-396. https://doi.org/10.1080/15348431.2019.1603749
  • Gay, G. (2023). Educating for equity and excellence: Enacting culturally responsive teaching. Teachers College Press.
  • Gelfand, & Jackson, J. C. (2016). From one mind to many: The emerging science of cultural norms. Current Opinion in Psychology, 8, 175–181. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2015.11.002
  • Gonzalez, J. (2017). A counter narrative A pedagogy of love through critical race. In F. A. López (Ed.), Asset pedagogies in Latino youth identity and Achievement: Nurturing confianza (pp. 135–146). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315692715-8
  • Hemphill, D., & Blakely, E. (2014). Language, nation, and identity in the classroom: Legacies of modernity and colonialism in schooling. Peter Lang.
  • Holt, N. (2017, Dec 24). Shaping the 'Star Wars' Universe: To reflect more diversity in the saga, it takes a story group. New York Times.
  • Hooks, B. (1994). Teaching to transgress. Taylor & Francis Group. https://doi.org/10.3366/para.1994.0013
  • Inoue, A. B. (2015). Antiracist writing assessment ecologies: Teaching and assessing writing for a socially just future. The WAC Clearinghouse. https://doi.org/10.37514/PER-B.2015.0698
  • Institute of Education Sciences. (2020). IPEDS data feedback report 2020: Central Arizona College, Coolidge, AZ. Author. https://centralaz.edu/
  • Irizarry, J. G. (2017). “For us, by us”: A vision for culturally sustaining pedagogies forwarded by Latinx youth. In D. Paris & H. S. Alim (Eds.), Culturally sustaining pedagogies: Teaching and learning for justice in a changing world (pp. 83–98). Teachers College Press.
  • Jensen, E., Orozco, K., Medina, L., Perry, M., Bolender, B, & Battle, K. (2021). Measuring racial and ethnic diversity for the 2020 census. United States Census Bureau.
  • Killoy, A, Rabinovitz, D., Young, J., & Jhally, S. (Directors). (2008). Tim Wise: On white privilege. [Video]. Media Education Foundation.
  • Kutz, E., & Roskelly, H. (1991). An unquiet pedagogy: Transforming practice in the English classroom. Boynton/Cook.
  • Ladson-Billings, G. (1995). Toward a theory of culturally relevant pedagogy. American Educational Research Journal, 32(3), 465–491. https://doi.org/10.3102/00028312032003465
  • Ladson-Billings, G. (2014). Culturally relevant pedagogy 2.0: a.k.a. the Remix. Harvard Educational Review, 84(1), 74-84. https://doi.org/10.17763/haer.84.1.p2rj131485484751
  • Lam, W. S. E. (2006). Culture and learning in the context of globalization: Research directions. Review of Research in Education, 30, 213-237. https://doi.org/10.3102/0091732X030001213
  • Lee, T. S., & McCarty, T. L. (2017). Upholding Indigenous education sovereignty through critical culturally sustaining/revitalizing pedagogy. In D. Paris & H. S. Alim (Eds.), Culturally sustaining pedagogies: Teaching and learning for justice in a changing world (pp. 61–82). Teachers College Press.
  • Liu, A. (2011). Unraveling the myth of meritocracy within the context of US higher education. Higher Education, 62(4), 383–397. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-010-9394-7
  • Medina, L., & Gonzales, M. R. (2019). Introduction. In L. Medina & M. R. Gonzales (Eds.), Voices from the ancestors: Xicanx and Latinx spiritual expressions and healing practices (pp. 3-19). University of Arizona Press. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctvq4c07x.4
  • Mer, B. (2020). The culture of white supremacy in organizations: Race, Research, and Policy Portal. Harvard University.
  • Merriam-Webster Dictionary. (n.d.). Decolonization- Patriarchy. Author. https://www.merriam-webster.com/
  • Mintz, S. (2021). Decolonizing the Academy: Who’s afraid of the call to decolonize higher education? Inside Higher Education.
  • Moe, A. M. (2015). Unveiling the gaze. In Trier-Bieniek, A. (Eds). Feminist theory and pop culture. teaching gender (pp. 1-20). Sense Publishers. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-6300-061-1_1
  • National Center for Education Statistics. (2021, October). Spring 2002 through spring 2013 and winter 2013-14 through winter 2020-21, graduation rates component; and IPEDS winter 2014, admissions component. Author. https://nces.ed.gov
  • Oxford University Press. (2023, July). Revitalize. Author. https://www-oed-com
  • Paris, D. (2012). Culturally sustaining pedagogy: A needed change in stance, terminology, and practice. Educational Researcher, 41(3), 93–97. https://doi.org/10.3102/0013189X12441244
  • Paris, D. (2019). Naming beyond the white settler colonial gaze in educational research. International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education, 32(3), 217-224. https://doi.org/10.1080/09518398.2019.1576943
  • Paris, D., & Alim, H. S. (2014). What are we seeking to sustain through culturally sustaining pedagogy? A loving critique forward. Harvard Educational Review, 84(1), 85-137. https://doi.org/10.17763/haer.84.1.982l873k2ht16m77
  • Patel, L. (2016). Pedagogies of resistance and survivance: Learning as marronage. Equity & Excellence in Education, 49(4), 397–401. https://doi.org/10.1080/10665684.2016.1227585
  • Pendharker, E. (2023, January 24). Florida’s ban on AP African American studies, explained. Education Week. https://www.edweek.org
  • Pewewardy, C., Lees, A., & Zape-tah-hol-a Minthorn, R. (2022). Introduction. In C. Pewewardy, A. Lees, and R. Zape-tah-hol-a Minthorn (Eds.), Unsettling settler-colonial education. The transformational Indigenous praxis model. (pp. 1-11). Teachers College Press.
  • Powell, B. (2023, January 21). Senator Bobby Powell: Governor’s discriminatory move tramples Florida law [Press release]. The Florida Senate. https://www.flsenate.gov/
  • Rosaldo, R. (1989). Culture & truth: The remaking of social analysis. Beacon Press.
  • Ruiz, I. D. (2016). Reclaiming composition for chicano/as and other ethnic minorities: A critical history and pedagogy. Palgrave Macmillion. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-53673-0
  • Saini, R., & Begum, N. (2020). Demarcation and definition: Explicating the meaning and scope of “decolonisation” in the social and political sciences. Political Quarterly, 91(1), 217–221. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-923X.12797
  • San Pedro, T., Murray, K., Gonzales-Miller, S. C., Reed, W., Bah, B. Gerrard, C., & Whalen, A. (2020). Learning-in-relation: Implementing and analyzing assets based pedagogies in a higher education classroom. Equity & Excellence in Education, 53, 177–195. https://doi.org/10.1080/10665684.2020.1749188
  • U. S. Department of Education. (n.d.). Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs): White house initiative on advancing educational equity, excellence, and economic opportunity for Hispanics. Author. https://sites.ed.gov/hispanic-initiative/
  • Veracini, L. (2010). Settler colonialism: A theoretical overview. Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230299191
LICENSE
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.