The Criticality Project

The Criticality Project
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Education
  • Series

Join us, a group of undergraduate student researchers, as we unpack the pervasiveness of antiblackness in the U.S. educational system. We discuss a range of topics, including antiblack racism, race-based stress, and the shield of white ignorance. Using scholarly resources, real-life stories, and our expertise across disciplines, we seek to center Black lives and reveal how educational institutions facilitate antiblackness.

Season 1

  1. Episode 1

    1 - Shifting Vocabulary: How Are We Talking About Race?

    In the first episode of The Criticality Project, hosted by a diverse group of undergraduate student researchers, we introduce our purpose of unpacking and raising awareness about antiblackness in the U.S. education system. We discuss foundational concepts and relevant theoretical frameworks, including structural racism, antiblackness, and critical race theory. Throughout the podcast, we seek to use a combination of real-life narratives, analysis of relevant scholarship, and critical conversations to reveal the pervasiveness of anti-black racism and racialized trauma in American schools. Key Topics: Introductions and positionality statements [0:57] Structural racism and antiblackness [12:36] How is Black death foundational to American society? [17:23] Critical race theory and critical whiteness studies [38:27] Research purposes, methods, and meanings [42:24] Conclusion [56:33] Links/Sources Mentioned in the Episode: Mapping Racial Trauma in Schools https://www.zinnedproject.org/materials/baldwin-talk-to-teachers Against the Dark: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00405841.2016.1116852 https://steppingintothemap.com/inequalities/files/original/7681055be22bd1d3c597e3b828531d79.pdf https://bcrw.barnard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Sharpe_BlackStudies-IntheWake.pdf Eight “Big-Tent” Criteria for Excellent Qualitative Research: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1077800410383121 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5f3f08b8ce35136b743f545a/t/6451b6fb04f5e716921469fa/1683076859601/Matias%2C+Boucher_From+critical+whiteness+studies+to+a+critical+study.pdf https://thrive.arizona.edu/sites/default/files/Just%20what%20is%20critical%20race%20theory%20and%20whats%20it%20doing%20in%20a%20nice%20field%20like%20education.pdf

  2. Episode 2

    2 - How Do Black People Die Before Their Funerals?

    This episode is about race-based stress and spirit murder. Race-based stress is stress caused by acts of racial violence. Spirit murder is the death of the soul caused by racially-motivated violent actions such as belittlement, humiliation, physical violence, and more. Our discussions take a critical approach when discussing these topics, such as who benefits from spirit murder and how it affects educational outcomes. Answering these questions also introduces themes of surveillance and internalized racism. Lastly, we ask the viewer to participate in our discussions by considering their own coping and stress-management strategies. Key Topics: Introductions and Recap [0:20] Spirit Murder Narrative [1:58] Defining Spirit Murder (SM) [2:57] SM in Edu. Spheres [7:08] Interest Convergence [17:15] Discussion on Racial Trauma Scars [25:19] Coping and Resilience [43:31] Links/Sources Mentioned in the Episode: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10186562/ https://harvardlawreview.org/print/no-volume/brown-v-board-of-education-and-the-interest-convergence-dilemma/ https://www.apa.org/monitor/2018/02/datapoint https://www.naacpldf.org/brown-vs-board/significance-doll-test/ https://repository.law.miami.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=&httpsredir=1&article=2092&context=umlr https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhrH-S8pGpY  https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2022/12/06/report-black-straight-a-student-was-in-racially-hostile-environment-at-iowa-school/

  3. Episode 3

    3 - Sorry Isn't Accountability: The Shield of White Ignorance

    Episode Three of The Criticality Project expands on the concepts of Afro-Pessimism, Anti-Blackness, Critical Whiteness Studies, White Ignorance/Innocence, and Accountability. With the help of two stories of curriculum violence, we engage in a series of discussions around these terms and attempt to identify the value of “blame”, the connotation behind innocence and ignorance, and some characteristics of accountability-in-action. In this episode, Professor Stephanie Jones joined us to discuss the reality of accountability within schools, how this impacts Black children, and what discussions about race might look like in these environments. During the interview portion of this episode, we’re able to dive into colorblindness as a technique of evasion, hierarchies between teachers and students, the institutional reinforcement of antiblack policies, and the essentiality of reflexive practice among educators. Listeners are encouraged to reflect on their own positionality and how it shapes the way they hear and respond to conversations about race, harm, and accountability.  Key Topics: Introduction of Relevant Terms [0:46] Curriculum Violence Narrative [2:16] Discussion on White Accountability [3:55] Introduction of Relevant Terms [11:03] Discussion on White Innocence [12:44] Return to Narrative [21:40] Discussion on Anti-Racist Classrooms [22:32] Interview w/ Dr. Stephanie Jones [29:22] Conclusion [61:58] Links/Sources Mentioned in the Episode: https://mappingracialtrauma.sites.grinnell.edu/  https://nypost.com/2023/05/16/kentucky-teacher-suspended-after-allowing-student-to-dress-of-kkk-for-extra-credit/  https://www.kansascity.com/news/nation-world/national/article293679179.html

  4. Episode 4

    4 - Goodbye For Now

    Wrap-Up Episode. Thank you for listening and if you have any questions or comments, please feel free to reach out to us at mappingracialtrauma@grinnell.edu!

  • 4 Episodes

About

Join us, a group of undergraduate student researchers, as we unpack the pervasiveness of antiblackness in the U.S. educational system. We discuss a range of topics, including antiblack racism, race-based stress, and the shield of white ignorance. Using scholarly resources, real-life stories, and our expertise across disciplines, we seek to center Black lives and reveal how educational institutions facilitate antiblackness.

Information

  • Creator
    The Criticality Project
  • Episodes
    4
  • Seasons
    1
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Criticality Project