The Public Pedagogy of the Master Narrative - by Jpb Gerald (Paperback)

About the Book

Through a wide range of interviews with experts in areas ranging from US states generally perceived as being progressive to countries including Finland, Algeria and Japan, the author explores how a centuries-long battle for control of the narrative around race and language continues to be fought around the world.

Book Synopsis

Through a wide range of interviews with experts in areas ranging from US states generally perceived as being progressive to countries including Finland, Algeria and Japan, the author explores how a centuries-long battle for control of the narrative around race and language continues to be fought around the world.

Review Quotes

This book resists the notion that racism is 'just' an issue in the Southern United States. In his witty and engaging voice, JPB navigates how whiteness operates in invisible ways in areas of the world thought of as nice, progressive, or 'not racist'. This is a must-read for teacher-scholars in language studies and beyond.

Through vivid narratives, candid interviews, and incisive analysis, Gerald explores how whiteness and language ideologies operate across diverse contexts. Rather than offering easy answers, this book opens a dialogue. It challenges readers to interrogate assumptions, embrace complexity, and, above all, listen. In an era of polarization, Gerald models what it means to engage critically yet generously, weaving together multiple perspectives without closing the door on debate.

About the Author

JPB Gerald is an independent scholar of issues around language, race and neurodivergence, based in New York, USA. He is the author of Antisocial Language Teaching (Multilingual Matters, 2022) and a book for K12 teachers Embracing the Exceptions (Routledge, 2025).