Summer Learning Series: Learning, Growing, and ConnectingBlack Literacy as Resistance, Power, and Defiance
This summer, I had the privilege of attending the Conference on Racial and Social Justice, held June 29–July 1 at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland. The theme, A Joyous Rebellion!, invited educators to challenge inequities in schools while centering joy, creativity, and resilience in our work. It was both energizing and healing to be in a space that recognized the weight of racial battle fatigue and reminded us that joy is not just survival; it is resistance.
One of the most impactful sessions I attended was Black Literacy as Resistance, Power, and Defiance, led by Demetrius Dove. Mr. Dove, a dynamic young educator, delivered an inspiring and deeply honest message to a packed room. He reminded us that understanding Black literacy traditions is essential to equitable teaching. Black students have always created rich, complex literacies, even when systems tried to marginalize or erase them. We examined how anti-Black literacy narratives persist and how educators can disrupt them by embracing cultural knowledge and amplifying student voice.
Mr. Dove mapped his talk to the framework of Culturally Responsive Pedagogy developed by Dr. Gloria Ladson-Billings, with three tenets:
Academic Success—helping students master and critique texts while analyzing power structures.
Cultural Competence—validating Black vernacular, texts, and traditions as important forms of literacy.
Critical Consciousness—guiding students to question and interrogate systems: Who is centered in the curriculum? What’s missing? What is myth?
Dr. Ladson-Billings’ reminder echoed powerfully: “It is not enough to just add students of color to the existing structure. The structure itself must be changed.”
The conversation expanded beyond print to digital and cultural literacies. We explored how today’s youth create meaning and resist oppression through digital activism such as tweets, TikToks, memes, livestreams, and hashtag movements like #BlackLivesMatter, #SayHerName, and #BlackTikTokStrike. These are not distractions; they’re powerful, modern texts students use to tell stories, question injustice, and organize. Another fascinating discussion explored fashion literacy: how clothing communicates identity and how schools often police Black students’ self-expression through biased dress codes and discipline practices.
Throughout the session, we were pushed to reflect on our identities and biases as educators. We were encouraged to see the humanity of our students, honor their cultural knowledge, and create classrooms where identity is celebrated rather than suppressed. The facilitators challenged us to identify:
One Belief we want to protect (e.g., “Black students are already brilliant”).
One Barrier we are committed to challenging (e.g., standardized language policies that erase identity).
One Brave Step we will take within the next month to disrupt inequities (e.g., inviting students to co-create a literacy project).
This framework moved the conversation from reflection to action.
Throughout this session, I was reminded that literacy is not just about reading books. It’s about reading the world and empowering students to critique, question, and change it. Digital spaces, fashion, music, and activism are part of that world, and our job as educators is to value them, not dismiss them. We must also examine how our routines, curriculum choices, and discipline policies may unintentionally uphold inequities.
As we prepare for a new school year, this learning stays with me. To create equitable classrooms, we must disrupt harmful narratives, honor the literacies students bring with them, and lead with joy and humanity. Our students deserve spaces where their identities and voices thrive.
This post is part of my Summer Learning Series, where I’m sharing key takeaways from the professional learning experiences that shaped my thinking this summer. I encourage you to follow along and check out the other posts as I continue reflecting on what I’ve learned—and how it will impact my work moving forward.
🟡 Stay tuned for my thoughts on Healing Racial Battle Fatigue and Reconnecting With Joy
