Since the Black Lives Matter protests of 2020, English literature teachers have been challenged to diversify their reading lists and to teach in ways that celebrate and support minoritised students. I will study how literature teachers in London and New Orleans manage to teach about racial and ethnic identity, and feel confident in doing so, while navigating anti-Critical Race Theory pressures ad discourses. The project will involve me conducting case studies – on both sides of the Atlantic — to identify the practical skills that confident English teachers use compared to those who are less confident in teaching about identity through literature. My aim is to co-design training materials to support British and American teachers to build confidence in teaching about identity and belonging through literature curriculums.

 

Publications

 

Elliott, V., Nelson-Addy, L., Chantiluke, R. & Courtney, M. (2021) Lit in Colour Diversity in Literature in English Schools. London: Penguin & Runnymede Trust

 

Chantiluke.R, Kwoba.B, Nkopo.A, Rhodes Must Fall: The Struggle to Decolonise the Racist Heart of Empire (London: Zed Books), 2018