Antiracist Reading Revolution [Grades K-8]: A Framework for Teaching Beyond Representation Toward Liberation

The author addresses the historic lack of diverse characters in publishing, the “heroes and holidays” curriculum taught in schools, and the spread of the government’s critical race theory into learning institutions. The first seed of knowledge Cherry-Paul plants is a vision in which love supersedes hate, and access to multiple perspective books, revealing the lived and shared truth of individuals, is not only available but utilized to build readers’ intellect and citizenship. As the seed grows, the author scatters her reading framework for literacy educators: Affirmation, Awareness, Authorship, Atmosphere, Activism, and Accountability. Cherry-Paul cultivates each of these seeds through explanation, demonstration, and revelation. This six-point framework centers BIPOC texts through in-depth critical reading, interpretive thinking, and action-centered learning; students become master scholars as they read “mirrors, windows, and sliding glass doors” texts. Within this framework, teachers are challenged through ongoing self-reflection to provide instruction that encourages students to apply earnest thought and overarching truth to their lives and their communities. Most chapters include a list of recommended BIPOC texts, and QR codes offer additional resources, including interviews with BIPOC authors and illustrators, how-to demonstrations, and teacher guides.