Decoteau J. Irby, author of STUCK IMPROVING and MAGICAL BLACK TEARS

2559 North Downer Avenue,Milwaukee WI 53211

31 July, 2022

Description

Boswell presents an evening with Decoteau J Irby, author of Stuck Improving and Magical Black Tears: A Protest Story. An incisive case study of changemaking in action, Stuck Improving analyzes the complex process of racial equity reform within K-12 schools. Scholar Decoteau J Irby emphasizes that racial equity is dynamic, shifting as our emerging racial consciousness evolves and as racism asserts itself anew. Those who accept the challenge of reform find themselves "stuck improving," caught in a perpetual dilemma of both making progress and finding ever more progress to be made. Rather than dismissing stuckness as failure, Irby embraces it as an inextricable part of the improvement process. This timely work contributes both to the practical efforts of equity-minded school leaders and to a deeper understanding of what the work of racial equity improvement truly entails. Magical Black Tears: A Protest Story celebrates the resilience of Black communities and families. It acknowledges the role Black children’s creative imaginations play in fortifying us all against the harms of racism and injustice. Caregivers and educators who help children read about and discuss current events play a special role in nurturing their imaginations. Decoteau J Irby’s life work focuses on creating and sustaining organizations that contribute to Black people’s self-determined well-being, development, and positive life outcomes. He is an Associate Professor at University of Illinois at Chicago in the Department of Educational Policy Studies. Click here to purchase your copy of Stuck Improving, and a link to purchase Magical Black Tears: A Protest Story will be here soon. Signed copies and personalization available on pre-orders. Please note that signed copies will not be shipped until after the event.