Teaching About Race, Racism, and Social Justice with Mindfulness: A Pedagogical Tool That Keeps Us All Engaged
Keywords:
social justice, mindfulness, nature, racism, race, educationAbstract
Teaching about race, racism, and social justice requires both instructor and student or participant to stay engaged. A public health pedagogy that includes mindfulness can help to ensure this engagement. This reflective piece will highlight the effects of mindfulness in general and specifically in helping to remain calm during education on potentially activating material. A description of the use of nature slides as bells of mindfulness to remind teacher and participants, especially Black, Indigenous, and People of Color/Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic, to pause and become aware of the breath, relax, and renew themselves will be discussed. This calm is necessary to assure that a pedagogy that moves us toward racial justice is accomplished with clarity and insight, while minimizing harm.
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