The 180 Podcast | Na’ilah Suad Nasir: Race, Identity and Equity in Education
Race in America is a daily part of nearly every aspect of our lives including, of course, education. And that intersection where race, identity, equity and education all meet—that’s where Na’ilah Suad Nasir has dedicated her research, action, and career.
Nasir’s work centers on what she calls the “racialized and cultural nature of learning and schooling”—in other words, how to consider identity and racial inequality with the goal to advance equitable access to high-quality education. And how, as a result, school districts might rethink a “standardized” approach.
Nasir is President of the Spencer Foundation, the Chicago-based funder of education research. Previously, Nasir was a faculty member at the University of California, Berkeley and served as the university’s second Vice Chancellor for Equity and Inclusion. She is the author of numerous publications, including “Racialized Identities: Race and Achievement for African-American Youth” and co-editor of “We Dare Say Love: Supporting Achievement in the Educational Life of Black Boys.”
We discussed her philosophy—as well as the practical steps educators—from K-12 and beyond—can apply from the science of learning and development to change the way kids learn.
Also listen to the Podcast here.
