Episode 4: Approaching Racist Violence in Toni Morrison's Beloved

In this episode, Paige and Margaret are joined by Dr. Dennis Moore to discuss teaching depictions of racist violence in literature. Using Toni Morrison's Beloved to anchor the conversation, we might call this conversation "Clever, but Schoolteacher Beat Him Anyway." We talk about how these scenes can challenge our students' misconceptions, depict layers of knowledge and culture, and address that some traumas can never be truly spoken. Examining racist violence in a literature classroom can be uncomfortable and we want to lean into that discomfort while maintaining a safe environment for our students to learn. Join us as we talk about how Morrison's masterpiece allows us the opportunity to do so.
Please note: because this episode focuses on racist violence, there are descriptions of graphic violence and references to racist language.