Unpacking Race in Education with Dr. Laura C. Chávez-Moreno

How do schools shape our understanding of race—intentionally or not? Dr. Laura C. Chávez-Moreno joins us to discuss her groundbreaking book How Schools Make Race, which examines the ways educational systems reinforce racial identities and hierarchies. Through her research in a bilingual education program, Dr. Chávez-Moreno uncovers how schools, often unknowingly, contribute to the racialization of students. From curriculum choices to classroom dynamics, tracking, and resource allocation, these factors all play a role in shaping racial categories. She explores how bilingual education is both an attempt to counteract historical discrimination and a system operating within existing racial structures, creating tensions and contradictions. The conversation also touches on how educators can approach race in the classroom, the importance of evolving racial education, and how students themselves can advocate for change. If you're a teacher, parent, school leader, or simply someone interested in how race and education intersect, this is a must-watch conversation.