Critical Perspectives on Race and Schooling (Perspectives in Education)

Although race has been a ubiquitous topic in U.S. education, increasingly scholars have raised questions about its under-theorization and dynamic nature. This essay examines some of the theoretical discussions surrounding our understanding of race and how it affects schooling. The structure of this essay includes a brief discussion of what is meant by race, an examination of the new scholarship regarding race, and the impact that race thinking has on schooling and education outcomes.

Perhaps no term has undergone more scrutiny and simultaneously created more confusion than the notion of race. Ancient literatures used the term to distinguish between ethnic, linguistic, and national origin. Thus, [Page 482]the Irish, the French, the Ancient Greeks, and the Jews all were considered “races.” However, with the European exploration of ...