Discussions around race and racism may be hot button topics in schools across America – but that doesn’t make the conversation any less imperative. Now a new book from IU School of Education faculty member Marcus Croom aims to make those conversations easier and provide support to teachers as they have these important discussions.

Croom, an Assistant Professor in Curriculum and Instruction, says he wrote the book, “Real Talk? How to Discuss Race, Racism and Politics in 21st Century American Schools,” in response to many indicators that educators want support and guidance on how to discuss public issues in their classes. After the Indiana Black Expo invited Croom to present about race, racism and politics during that summer event, he thought a published guide might not only help these conference participants but also teachers across America. The book includes links to valuable resources, including a free planning template.

And even though there may be unique elements about controversies that are raging in 2021 around race, there really is nothing new, Croom added, about race and racism being touchy topics in schooling—especially for school boards.

“I recommend that schools remind all their stakeholders that American schooling and American society are related. At the very minimum this means that schools are required to respond to and engage with public issues to some degree in order to be relevant, valuable institutions,” he said. “Schools and school educators should approach this unavoidable responsibility with credibility, criticality, clarity, and confidence. The Real Talk Protocol (RTP)^© is a five-step system that any school educator can use to help them respond to the reality imperative."

Croom wrote the book assuming not all readers will see real talks about public issues, such as race, racism and politics, as necessary. But in fact they are.

“We must discuss race and racism in schools because race and racism are already playing out in our society and in our schools at this point in human history,” he said. “Americans live and learn amid consequential racialization. In other words, how we live and what we learn are shaped by good and bad racial thoughts and practices. So how is it legitimate to pretend that this is not already our reality? Benefits and harms are already occurring in our society and in our schools along racial lines and according to racial logics. What has or has not been done about race and racism lead us to where we are now in America.”

“I think that most people, across racial groups, would agree that there's something to discuss because the polka dot, trumpet-playing elephant is dancing in the room with all of us. Yet, people may not know how to act on what they recognize: we need to do something that is better than what we have done in the past and what we are doing now,” he added. “I'm offering a reliable system for constructive discussions about race, racism and politics. Our racial future need not be our racial past or present. A real talk is a meaningful step toward the future that I think most of us want.”

After all, as Croom mentions in the book, “Educators who choose to have a real talk are a part of the solution. Silence and avoidance are problematic and can even be harmful to the human beings that our schools are supposed to serve well.”