Antiracism Theory

Ideas about race and racism are virtually as old as the human experience. The ubiquitous presence of [Page 37]these ideas certainly permeates curriculum studies in its exploration of what counts as knowledge, whose knowledge is valued, and the complex relationship between people and knowledge. Around the world, groups have been identified by racial categories that have been used to create social hierarchies employing various forms of racism. This prevailing reality does not suggest that it is natural or inherent for racism to exist somewhere at all times. In fact, perspectives on race and racism play out differently in different sociopolitical contexts and vary across time and as political, cultural, or demographic shifts occur. In many contexts and at certain times as perspectives change, diversity in ...