Teaching Truths: Educators Speak on Justice & Liberation in the Classroom

Conservative lawmakers and right-wing organizations fear the potential of youth who think critically and investigate the historical roots of racism and inequality. Out of this fear grew the backlash to antiracist education. Republican legislators began passing educational gag-order bills designed to prevent teachers from discussing systemic racism and sexism, LGBTQIA+ identity, and the history of social movements that challenge institutionalized inequality.

Teaching Truths: Educators speak on justice and liberation in the classroom is a partnership between the Zinn Education Project and Prism. This series sheds light on the resilience and courage of educators that are committed to teaching the full spectrum of people’s history is caught in classrooms. From Black, Indigenous, and LGBTQIA+ history, to the climate crisis, the ongoing genocide in Gaza, and the history of social movements, dedicated educators are keeping these essential stories alive in classrooms around the country.

In this event, we'll speak with educators who will share their strategies for resisting classroom attacks, their visions for a liberatory education, and their unwavering belief in the transformative power of young people who are informed, engaged, and ready to fight for justice.

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Lara Witt is the Editor-in-Chief at Prism.

Jesse Hagopan Jesse Hagopian is a Seattle educator, the director of the "Teaching for Black Lives Campaign with the Zinn Education Project, an editor for Rethinking Schools magazine, and founding steering committee member of Black Lives Matter at School. Jesse is the author of the forthcoming book from Haymarket Books, Teach Truth: The Attack on Critical Race Theory and the Struggle for Antiracist Education, editor of More Than a Score: The New Uprising Against High Stakes Testing, and the co-editor of the books, Teaching for Black Lives, Black Lives Matter at School, and Teachers Unions and Social Justice.

Dr. Tamyka Morant brings over 23 years of comprehensive experience as a Black Feminist PK-8 educator in Washington, D.C., and Baltimore. Her teaching and learning approach is deeply rooted in the tenets of Black feminism, Black feminist pedagogy, and justice praxis/liberatory education. In her current roles as Freedom and Justice’s mom, Assistant Principal in Washington, D.C., and member of D.C. Area Educators for Social Justice, she is unwavering in her dedication to collaborating with fellow educators, students, families, and community partners to advance educational equity and justice for all students.

De’Ana Forbes is a master high school social teacher in Northern Virginia and a doctoral student at the University at Buffalo, where she serves as a graduate fellow at the Carter Center for Black History and Racial Literacy Education under the leadership of Dr. LaGarrett King. Forbes possesses a passion for improving Black History education through a critical theoretical lens, focusing on the way U.S History curricula present the complex histories and humanities of Black peoples. Deana holds a B.A in History and Masters in Teaching 6-12 Social Studies from James Madison University, where she also was a D1 track and field athlete. She is a mother and advocate of lifelong learning and personal development. Miss Forbes has contributed her knowledge of Black History curriculum and pedagogy through various platforms, including NPR, In These Times, NCSS conferences, and her Instagram page @socialstudiesscholar.

Greg Wickenkamp is a doctoral student in the Department of History at the University of Iowa. His current work builds on curiosities that arose over more than a decade of K-16 social studies education, particularly around history's relationship to identity, race, and social justice. Prior to attending the University of Iowa, Wickenkamp earned an MA in the Social Foundations of Education at Iowa State University, where he briefly served as a lecturer. He has presented at the American Education Research Association (AERA), the National Rural Education Association (NREA), and engaged in a variety of social justice projects and organizations. He is currently researching the history of Iowa's chapters of the American Indian Movement, the Black Panther Party, and the FBI's efforts to stop them.

Dr. Chantee Earl is a clinical associate professor for the Department of Middle and Secondary Education at Georgia State University. A former high school social studies teacher, Chantee Earl has over 10 years of classroom teaching experience. Her research focus and instruction centers on African American educators, urban education, culturally relevant pedagogy, and critical race studies in education. She currently instructs and coordinates the social studies M.A.T. and Urban Teacher Leader M.Ed. programs at Georgia State. She has presented at national educational research conferences and is committed to improving the educational experiences for all students.

Event Venue

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