There are many factors which may make conversations about race difficult for educators. Some may think students aren’t ready for these discussions, that the topic is too taboo, or that they may disengage. Another important factor is the educators own racial identity, experiences or misconceptions or biases they hold. All of these factors can make it intimidating to hold discussions about race.

For me, the biggest concern would be unintentionally causing discomfort to the marginalized students who are part of the classroom community. That’s something I would be mindful about if I was to have these conversations within my classroom. Creating a safe space, supportive space for these conversations with clear expectations is crucial to having productive conversations about race. 

While I do not often talk explicitly about race in my classroom, I do more implicitly through the artist I chose to showcase and use Indigenous ways of knowing as a foundation for all of my lessons. I believe these conversations are important, and I feel like if I was teaching a more lecture-heavy course it would be something I would incorporate more directly in my lessons.

From the readings, my main takeaways were that it is okay to feel uncomfortable, there are so many different perspectives, and it is okay to to be wrong and learn from students' lived experiences. Most importantly, I have learned that being honest allows students to be honest too, which encourages deeper understanding and connections.