Preparing adult educators for racial justice

Abstract

Adult educators are often seen as proponents of social justice but what does it really mean to be an advocate for racial justice in and outside the classroom? Draconian policies implemented by the Trump administration have placed additional hardships on Americans. The increasing attacks on education have clear ramifications for adults in formal and informal contexts. In this article, the authors will explore how adult educators can become not only allies for social justice but also advocates and accomplices for racial justice through curriculum, instruction, and altered perceptions. Social justice is a broad term capturing all aspects of injustice. Racial justice focuses squarely on injustices due to race and racism.

Adult Education as a Human Right/Adult Education for Human Rights

“…The adult education field desperately needs allies, advocates, and accomplices (Isaac-Savage & Merriweather, 2021) to stand up and speak out publicly. One way to do that is to use research to chronicle struggles occurring on the ground.…”

A Practitioner’s Guide to Evaluating Social Change Initiatives for Adults Using Quantitative Methodologies in Excel

“…While the field of adult education has long advocated for social change, it has recently seen increased calls for practices that challenge White supremacy (Brookfield, 2020) and promote racial justice (Isaac‐Savage & Merriweather, 2021). Some U.S. practitioners respond to these calls by providing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) training in their workplaces.…”