This user guide is meant to briefly explain the contents of the workbook sections so you can plan how you want to navigate the workbook.

Section Descriptions

Hesitations

This section was created to specifically address concerns FYW instructors in WRaC might have as they come to antiracist works. Each “hesitation” is guided by a question based on the contributors experiences working with colleagues and some of the hesitations that have surfaced when talking about and engaging antiracism.

We imagine this section as a primer that addresses concerns and obstacles you may have through providing theory, stories, frameworks, and reflections to guide you past them towards anti-racist practice.

Reflective Questionnaire

This section includes two separately grouped series of reflective questions (“Questionnaires”) intended to help anyone surface their 1) racialized socializations, values, beliefs, and histories  and 2) classroom ideals, practices, and commonplaces. The questions are intended to help one surface these things so they might better understand where they need to grow, change, adapt, and interrogate.

The goals of these questionnaires are to both encourage self-reflection and conversation with colleagues so address commonplaces, differences, and the ways white supremacy may permeate these places.

Storied Classroom Activities

The storied classroom activities section is a collection of anti-racist pedagogy materials from colleagues in the FYW department at MSU. The varied activities range from syllabi language to first day activities, to scaffolding activities, to reflections on failure. Activities are also offered contextualized activities.

We offer the activities as “storied” because we want them to be understood in a context. We also want users of this workbook to understand that no anti-racist practice is cut & paste. Your anti-racist practice must be defined by your positionality, class goals, style, values, and personality. We hope the “storied” aspect of these activities discourages the ability to simply lift these materials directly into your practice and encourages that you use these materials as a starting point in figuring out what, why, and how you might adapt the activities shared.

Glossary

The glossary is a short collection of common terms and definitions found throughout the book in the hopes of creating a shared language bank that all can learn with.

Resources

The resources section is a place for all of the citations found throughout and the workbook and to share further, relevant readings and materials.

Contributors

The contributors section lists all of the past and current contributors to this workbook. We when we say “we” in this book, we are referring to a collective voice derived from the work contributors have added over time.

Feedback

The feedback section includes a Qualtrics survey form where you may offer us feedback to any part of the workbook.

How to Navigate This Workbook

There is no one way expected to navigate this book. There is, though, some intention designed by the contributors.

We imagine someone brand new or very hesitant about anti-racist practice can start with the hesitations section, then move on to the questionnaire, and then look over the activities.

Someone more experienced and comfortable with anti-racism might start with the questionnaire and move wherever they are.

Use your initial reflection from the introduction to guide your navigation.