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A Liberatory Response to AntiBlackness and Racism in the Mathematics Education Enterprise

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Canadian Journal of Science, Mathematics and Technology Education Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Since the inception of the mathematics education enterprise, whiteness and antiBlackness are two foundational components, ideological and social constructs. These constructs help to understand how the law, race, class, power, and other forms of oppression operate to establish, maintain, and elevate racism (white supremacy) in and out of the mathematics education enterprise. The article uses critical race theory in mathematics education to examine the enterprise from a historical to contemporary perspective to illustrate how whiteness and antiBlackness have been normalized and used to exclude Blackness. I argue for a liberatory response anchored in African frames to address the atrocities against Black people in and out of mathematics education.

Résumé

Le projet d’enseignement des mathématiques est marqué depuis ses tout premiers débuts par deux éléments constitutifs fondamentaux soit la « blanchitude» et la logique anti-noire qui sont des constructions sociales et idéologiques. C’est à travers ces constructions que nous comprenons combien la loi, la race, les classes, le pouvoir et d’autres formes d’oppression agissent pour établir, maintenir et rehausser le racisme (la suprématie blanche) au sein et en dehors de la démarche d’enseignement des mathématiques. Dans l’article qui suit, l’on fonde l’examen de la démarche, d’un point de vue historique à contemporain sur la « Théorie critique de la race» dans l’enseignement des mathématiques dans le but de montrer comment la « blanchitude» et la logique anti-noire ont été normalisées et utilisées pour exclure la réalité noire. Je préconise la formulation d’une réponse libératrice ancrée dans des cadres de référence africains pour surmonter les atrocités faites aux personnes noires au sein et en dehors de l’enseignement des mathématiques.

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  1. Department of Teaching, Learning and Professional Development, College of Education, Bowie State University, James E. Proctor, Jr. Building, 233N, Bowie, MD, USA

    Julius Davis

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Davis, J. A Liberatory Response to AntiBlackness and Racism in the Mathematics Education Enterprise. Can. J. Sci. Math. Techn. Educ. 21, 783–802 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42330-021-00187-x

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