Criticality as a Call to Action
Cultivating Genius Book Study
This is the ninth and final post in our summer book study; see all contributions here. Thank you for reading Cultivating Genius with us!
I have been fortunate to have the opportunity to travel this year. Reading Cultivating Genius took me back to a particular trip I made to Chattanooga, Tennessee this past March. I had been encouraged to visit The Civil Rights Museum. What I discovered was an experience that I will not soon forget and will stay with me.
During my visit, I was introduced to some current and historical figures and organizations that I was reminded of upon reading this quote in Cultivating Genius:
When we frame the stories of people of color as narratives steeped in pain or even smallness, this becomes the dominant or sole representation.
- Gholdy Muhammad
My visit to The Civil Rights Museum reminded me of what Muhammad stated in Chapter 3, “If teachers have Black and Brown students in their classrooms, it is a necessity to study the histories and scholarship of their students’ people.” Not only was I able to educate and enlighten myself to the marginalization of people of color, but I was able to walk away with knowledge of some great organizations.
The takeaway from this book for me is one of a call to action, a call to pursue stories that bring successes to the forefront of our children of color. I would like to share one of the organizations from my trip to the museum that promotes this mindset, one that we can bring to our students as information as well as introducing them to possibilities for their future.
Together, we are creating stronger economies and more equitable societies—ultimately realizing the true potential of democracy through diversity and inclusion.
Black Girls Code is an organization that builds pathways for young women of color to embrace the current tech marketplace as builders and creators by introducing them to skills in computer programming and technology. They state that radical action is needed to close the opportunity gap for Black women and girls. Black Girls Code leads a global movement to establish equal representation in the tech sector and is devoted to showing the world that Black girls can code and do so much more. They provide opportunities in artificial intelligence, robotics, mobile and APP design, web design, game design, virtual reality, 3D printing and blockchain.
Muhammad states that criticality is feeling for those who are not treated in humane ways regardless of what the law, policy and norms dictate. This is my why to continue developing my understanding of criticality as it is outlined in Cultivating Genius. I leave us with a reminder of our ultimate goal in teaching literacy with this quote from Cornelius Minor.
All children need access to both the secrets of the alphabetic code and relevant experiences with text. They need both explicit information about how reading works and immersive experiences that show them how to leverage reading and writing to change the world.
Virginia, I echo your statement that Cultivating Genius is a call to action. I don't know how you can read this book and not be motivated to shift your work toward a more inclusive and considerate practice. Your highlighting of the organization in the post is one way we can better engage in this work.
Virginia, thanks for sharing your experience regarding the relationship between Gholdy's book and the Civil Right's Museum. Sounds like both were very impactful on you. I also appreciate the sharing of resources, so thank you for providing the information on Black Girls Code. What a positive and uplifting resource!