Walter R. Jacobs

Wendy Thompson Taiwo

Amy August

Reflections on the murder of George Floyd and the uprisings that followed and on racism in Minnesota, as told by current and former residents of the state. On May 25, 2020, George Floyd, an unarmed Black man, was killed by Minneapolis police officers, sparking months of unrest at home and around the world. As millions took to the streets to express their outrage and speak out against systemic racism, injustice, and institutionalized violence, the city of Minneapolis and its residents were deeply shaken. For many, George Floyd's murder and the ensuing uprisings shattered the city's reputation for progressive ideals and a high quality of life. For many others, the incident simply caught on camera a representation of the harsh realities and paradoxes that they have been living with for generations. In the words of Jasmine Mitchell, "the 'Minnesota nice' comforts and illusionary progressiveness resides upon the ignoring of White racial terrorism and fears of Blackness, brown immigrants, and resistance to White supremacy." Sparked brings together the perspectives of social scientists, professors, and other academics who work or have worked in Minnesota. The essays present reflections on racial dynamics in the Twin Cities and the intersection of the wonderful and wretched sides of that existence, revealing deep complexities, ingrained inequities, and diverse personal experiences.

George Floyd, Racism, and the Progressive Illusion

Sparked

Jeffrey R. Di Leo

Where does learning take place? In this collection of passionately argued essays, leading educators and theorists explore the "where" of pedagogy - how pedagogical processes are influenced by local conditions. Understanding this dynamic just may be the single most important ingredient to successful teaching.Classrooms Matter presents some of the best known voices in critical pedagogy--Michael Apple, Henry Giroux, Stanley Aronowitz, Carol Becker, Peter McLaren--alongside essays by such well-known scholars as Mark Poster, Sharon O'Dair, David Trend, Jacqueline Bobo, and others. These thinkers explore the sensitive balance between technology, physical space, economic developments, political events, and the goals of teaching--a balance we must constantly renegotiate if classrooms are to matter at all.

Walter R. Jacobs

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