ERI Resources
Resources on Ethnic-Racial Identity
"The Need to Foster Ethnic-Racial Identity in School"
https://www.aft.org/ae/fall2019/rivas-drake_umana-taylor
American Educator; Rivas-Drake, D. & Umaña-Taylor, A. J.
This article excerpts from Below the Surface: Talking with Teens about Race, Ethnicity, and Identity, a book by Rivas-Drake and Umaña-Taylor on current ethnic-racial disparities and tensions in the US with focus on youth. They conclude by suggesting “that not only can youth have a strong ethnic-racial identity and still view other groups positively, but having a strong ethnic-racial identity actually makes it possible for youth to have a less superficial or more genuine understanding, and therefore value, for other groups.”
Exemplar Factsheets about Race, Ethnicity, and Ethnic-Racial Identity Development
Understanding Ethnic-Racial Identity Development by Gabe Murchison
Race & Ethnicity in the Classroom by Olivia Wheeler
Ethnic Identity (Spanish) for Parents by Michael Vazquez
The above factsheets were created by students in Dr. Umaña-Taylor's H608 Ethnic-Racial Identity Development course at Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Resources to Manage Classroom Dynamics around Ethnic-Racial Identity
Through our research, we have learned that a strong sense of ethnic-racial identity can lead to positive outcomes for adolescents, especially those who experience ethnic- or race-based discrimination. The development of ethnic-racial identity is a complex process, as teens explore what their race and ethnicity mean to them, try to understand the role of their race and ethnicity in their everyday lives, and decide how they feel about that aspect of themselves. The Identity Project curriculum was designed to provide adolescents of any ethnic-racial background with tools and strategies that help them explore and understand their constantly evolving identity in relation to their race and ethnicity. However, for educators, it can be difficult to navigate these conversations that may arise during the Identity Project without guidance and support. We offer educators and other adults supporting youth ethnic-racial identity development the below “You May Be Wondering” sheets to offer practical guidance and tools to best navigate conversations about race, ethnicity and identity.