This book explores the unique experiences of African-born educators and students in North American K-12 classrooms, as well as those of education faculty and administrators. It identifies the conflicting attributes that African-born educators and students bring into American schools and the challenges of working in linguistically, racially and culturally regulated educational spaces. The collected essays examine how attributes assigned to immigrant teachers by the host community of students, colleagues and administrators can serve both as conduits and deterrents for effective teaching. In all, Reprocessing Race, Language and Ability uncovers the existence of unavoidable - though not insurmountable - racial, cultural and linguistic dissonance when African and western cultures come in contact.
«'Reprocessing Race, Language and Ability' is reminiscent of Non-native Educators in English Language Teaching (1999), providing a powerful voice to another emerging force in the higher education sector of North America, African born educators and students. Their firsthand accounts, many beginning in Africa and continuing in North America, form a rich tapestry as colorful as their African backgrounds. This pioneering volume provides an opportunity for both experienced and novice scholars to contribute to a common cause. For years to come, this book will prove to be a valuable resource for researchers and scholars.» (George Braine, Founder, Non-Native Speaker Movement)
«This timely and important book - in times of increasing immigration - provides excellent insights into the contributions a generation of African scholars are making to U.S. education. Referencing their experiences as students, educators, professors and social service professionals, Harushimana, Ikpeze, Mthethwa-Sommers and their exceptional contributors collectively provide a critical examination of the social, cultural and political issues that, on the one hand, might have operated as barriers to their own and others' educational and social trajectory, but on the other, served to inspire and invigorate them in ways that point to what is possible through high aspiration, industriousness, diligence and education.» (Carl E. James, Professor and Director, York Centre for Education and Community, Toronto, Canada)
«This timely and important book - in times of increasing immigration - provides excellent insights into the contributions a generation of African scholars are making to U.S. education. Referencing their experiences as students, educators, professors and social service professionals, Harushimana, Ikpeze, Mthethwa-Sommers and their exceptional contributors collectively provide a critical examination of the social, cultural and political issues that, on the one hand, might have operated as barriers to their own and others' educational and social trajectory, but on the other, served to inspire and invigorate them in ways that point to what is possible through high aspiration, industriousness, diligence and education.» (Carl E. James, Professor and Director, York Centre for Education and Community, Toronto, Canada)