Anti-racist education and the role of the State and the third sector – 09/16/2024 – Michael França

Race is not just a determinant of how individuals are perceived or treated. It is not just about biases, whether obvious or subtle. It also shapes how whites and blacks see themselves and how they understand their role in society.

Even if we eliminated individual discrimination, its impact would still be there. It would still influence the choices we make, the opportunities we see, and the paths we decide to take. It is not just a social construct that directly affects what is said or done. It is also about what is not said and what is not done.

It’s about living in a society where images of success don’t look like you. It’s about living in a country where the stories told, the heroes presented, and the ideals of beauty rarely reflect who you are. This context impacts how our children and young people see themselves and what they believe they can achieve.

If a child doesn’t see their worth reflected in those around them, if a teenager doesn’t feel that their story is respected, this not only undermines their confidence but also limits their sense of belonging.

Once we recognize that race influences not only what we see but also how we see ourselves, then it is our duty to reimagine how we educate ourselves. But to do so, we must keep in mind that education is not limited to what happens inside the school.

Thinking this way means placing too much weight on the shoulders of our teachers, expecting them to solve problems that go beyond the crumbling walls of their classrooms. Schools alone will not heal all the wounds of social exclusion that we have created.

Education is something broader. It is present in every moment of our lives, in every social interaction we have and in every learning opportunity that arises. It is not just about earning credentials within educational institutions, it is also about the conversations we have with children at the dinner table, the debates we provoke and the examples we set every day.

It is in the way we treat each other and in the way we stand up to injustice. It can help us build a society based on the principle that all of us, regardless of who we are or where we come from, have a role to play in promoting human dignity.

To do this, we must remember that the strength of a nation does not come solely from its leaders or institutions, but from the spirit of ordinary people who rise up every day believing in the promise of a better future.

In order to contribute to the construction of a new tomorrow, I invite you to participate in an event that we will hold at Insper on Friday (September 20, from 2 pm to 9 pm), entitled: “Anti-racist Education: the role of the State and the third sector in promoting equity.”

The text is a tribute to the song “Glory”, performed by Common & John Legend.

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