A Shared Journey Toward Social Justice Activism
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5195/ie.2025.587Keywords:
social justice and advocacy, education, White identity, narrative, transformationAbstract
As a two-educator household, we entered the University of South Carolina’s EdD program in the spring of 2020 expecting to earn a degree that would provide greater financial support for our family while simultaneously refining our teaching practices. However, the program’s emphasis on social justice and advocacy resulted in more than just additional letters after our names—it transformed and reshaped our identities and perspectives, not only as individuals, but also as educators and parents. We were challenged to confront our assumptions and positionalities, broaden our understanding of equity, and embrace our roles as agents of change within our immediate spheres of influence. This article follows our shared journey and incorporates honest self-reflections of two White educators turned social justice advocates through the discovery of our White privilege and an increased awareness of the social injustices in our world but most acutely in our profession.
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