African Diaspora Literacy - by Lamar L Johnson & Gloria Boutte & Gwenda Greene (Paperback)

About the Book

This book presents accounts of African diaspora literacy in action in school settings. Focusing specifically on the language, history, politics, economics, and cultural traditions of people in the African diaspora, the authors illuminate critical information missing from schoo...

Book Synopsis

This book presents accounts of African diaspora literacy in action in school settings. Focusing specifically on the language, history, politics, economics, and cultural traditions of people in the African diaspora, the authors illuminate critical information missing from schools, teacher education, and English curricula.

Review Quotes

Decades ago Black liberationist Marcus Garvey challenged Black Americans to return to Africa to heal from the ongoing racialized violence and trauma they faced and continue to face in the United States. Johnson, Boutte, Smith, and Greene revive this urgent call through African Diaspora Literacy by challenging P-20 educators to situate Mother Africa as the birthplace of all knowledges and histories, which, they and eleven contributing authors argue, must be reflected in schools, pedagogies and practices, and extant curricula. Centering and drawing on African-centered knowledge bases is the balm so many Black children need to heal their individual and collective wounds and souls from the quotidian anti-Black violence they confront in schools. This book is a must read for ELA and language and literacy scholars, teachers, and teacher educators who believe that #BlackLivesMatter, and who desire to enact pedagogies of healing through African Diaspora literacy.

About the Author

Lamar L. Johnson is assistant professor of language and literacy for linguistic and racial diversity at Michigan State University.

Gloria Boutte is professor of instruction and teacher education at the University of South Carolina.

Gwenda R. Greene is associate professor of English at Benedict College.

Dywanna E. Smith holds a PhD in language and literacy from the University of South Carolina.