How to talk about racism with K-12 students if GOP lawmakers ban 'divisive concepts'

February 16th, 2022

student school — Talking about what not to talk about probably isn’t the best way to tackle a subject with young people, said Dr. Artika Tyner, the founding director of the Center on Race, Leadership and Social Justice at the University of St. Thomas School of Law.

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State Republicans have been focused this legislative session on establishing parameters for classroom conversations on race, slavery and the historic oppression of people of color in America.

Talking about what not to talk about probably isn’t the best way to tackle a subject with young people, said Dr. Artika Tyner, the founding director of the Center on Race, Leadership and Social Justice at the University of St. Thomas School of Law.

Tyner also led a children’s story time during Black History Month at Atlanta’s National Center for Civil and Human Rights. It featured her own book: ‘”Justice Makes a Difference.” Tyner said it’s a book many want to ban.

WABE’s “All Things Considered” host Jim Burress caught up with Tyner and asked how to frame this conversation with K-12 students, given all of the outside noise from parents, “divisive concepts” bills making their way through Georgia’s legislative session and nationwide resistance to concepts like Critical Race Theory.

Lily Oppenheimer contributed to this report.