Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Many Americans espouse “post-racial” conceptions of race and its role in children’s access to equitable learning opportunities; however, recent studies have illuminated the need to examine the ways in which “new” forms of institutionalized and interpersonal racism continue to hinder the schooling experiences of students in urban schools. Despite that students in urban schools are predominantly African American (27%) and Latinx (41%), the teaching force remains predominantly white (71%). Within these schools, white teachers’ lack of cultural competence and racial literacy marginalize students’ opportunities for social, emotional, and academic development and, thereby, foster racially hostile learning environments. However, cases of teachers in urban schools who create and sustain learning environments in which their students thrive socially, emotionally, and academically exist and need to be studied. This case study investigated the pedagogical beliefs and practices enacted by two highly regarded African American educators who created racially safe learning environments in two racially hostile urban elementary students. Ethnographic data was collected over a five-month period. Using constant comparative analysis within and across both cases, several significant findings emerged. Findings revealed how “new racism” manifested in the discourses, policies, and practices at both schools and, thus, illuminated the ways in which race marginalized not only the schooling experiences of African American and Latinx students, but their African American educators as well. Findings examined how each teachers’ pedagogical enactments aligned with the ideologies, beliefs, and practices associated with African American pedagogy and revealed how they fostered cultures of community, love, and achievement within their classrooms. Findings suggest that their culturally specific pedagogical beliefs and practices have the potential to create racially safe learning environments within, otherwise, racially hostile schools. Although African American pedagogical excellence is often relegated to discussions of practices needed to reach African American students, this study expands the knowledge base needed to center AAPE in discussions of best practices for teachers in urban schools. This study adds critical insights to discussions of race and its role in the schooling experiences and opportunities to learn in racially hostile urban schools.

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The purpose of this study was to explore the perceived impact of critical reflection on my cultural competence and practice of culturally responsive caring as a high school choral director. Caring educators establish trusting relationships with students that support them as teachers in identifying their strengths and interests, then employ that knowledge to develop student-centric curricula that generate opportunities for student success (Gay, 2018; Hendricks, 2018; Noddings, 2012). This practice is what Geneva Gay (2018) termed culturally responsive teaching. Gay (2018) also asserted, however, that a teacher cannot not claim to nurture caring relationships without accompanying cultural awareness. Considering ongoing and increasing social and political tensions that lead to societal divides in the United States, educators could benefit from practicing awareness so they can facilitate learning environments in which students are challenged, courageous, and inspired to explore their identities in caring environments. The pursuit of such cultural awareness, competence, and humility demands ongoing, authentic critical reflection—a vulnerable and arduous practice (Howard, 2003). This autoethnographic study considers literature positing that caring relationships in education demand profound and intentional cultural competence. It explores critical reflection as a means for developing such competence. This is an in-depth investigation into my pursuit of a culturally responsive caring practice as a high school choral director and product of the community in which I teach. The implications of this study describe my “cultural experience as it is particularly—not generally—lived” (Adams, et al., 2015, p. 41). The resulting narrative may encourage further research and empower educators and teacher educators to commit to a similar critically reflective practice that can lead to an authentic practice of culturally responsive caring.

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