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A review by erin_woods
Learning in Public: Lessons for a Racially Divided America from My Daughter's School by Courtney E. Martin
4.0
I have so many thoughts on this one and cannot review it well yet, having just finished. I have a bunch of criticisms, too, so while I think very highly of it, I’m not without cringe-like responses to some of her writing and charges to readers.
Specifically, it was uncomfortable to read her critiques of other white women without modeling the teamwork and partnership with them to do the work. I’m not saying that’s always required, but white people seem best positioned to take on other white people in these communities who we see acting in harmful ways. Martin instead chose to vilify and distance from one specific white woman in this text. It’s easy to do. As a reader, I would have benefitted from her discussion of working with people like this, but I’ll have to get that elsewhere.
I will give it five stars because of the intensity of deep reflection, personal research, and purposeful action it inspired in my own life. Curiosity led me to begin seeking answers about my child’s school, the community we chose to inhabit, and the ways we live our values as a young family—just as Martin writes about with her own. It was an important read for me (in the fall of my daughter’s kindergarten year), and I so appreciate being tasked to review the choices I make that lead to better education in our country.
Finally, the “show up, shush up, stay put” advice for white folks in nonwhite dominate spaces was so useful and well illustrated.
Specifically, it was uncomfortable to read her critiques of other white women without modeling the teamwork and partnership with them to do the work. I’m not saying that’s always required, but white people seem best positioned to take on other white people in these communities who we see acting in harmful ways. Martin instead chose to vilify and distance from one specific white woman in this text. It’s easy to do. As a reader, I would have benefitted from her discussion of working with people like this, but I’ll have to get that elsewhere.
I will give it five stars because of the intensity of deep reflection, personal research, and purposeful action it inspired in my own life. Curiosity led me to begin seeking answers about my child’s school, the community we chose to inhabit, and the ways we live our values as a young family—just as Martin writes about with her own. It was an important read for me (in the fall of my daughter’s kindergarten year), and I so appreciate being tasked to review the choices I make that lead to better education in our country.
Finally, the “show up, shush up, stay put” advice for white folks in nonwhite dominate spaces was so useful and well illustrated.