When you bring up race in the classroom and feel that wall of silence…

…it’s not just awkward — it’s disheartening.​ 

You want your classroom to be a space where everyone learns, speaks, and grows.

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But right now, it feels like:

• White students shut down or get defensive when race comes up.

• Students of color carry the emotional weight of teaching their peers.

• You leave class unsure if the conversation caused more harm than good.

• And sometimes, course evaluations sting with accusations that you’re “political” or “biased” simply for naming racism.

• You’re committed to teaching responsibly, but you need tools that actually work — strategies that make your classroom a space for growth, not guilt.

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Imagine if…

• Your students of color felt empowered to speak without feeling responsible for everyone else’s learning.

• White students learned to stay in the discomfort instead of retreating into silence.

• You could name racism confidently and respond to incivility without losing your composure or authority.

• And your evaluations reflected what you actually did: create a classroom rooted in trust, dialogue, and respect.

• This is possible — and it starts with teaching RaceTalk as a Skill.

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What You’ll Learn in This Workshop

In this hands-on session, you’ll learn how to turn tense, hesitant moments into real learning opportunities. You’ll leave with:

• A customized lesson plan for your own “RaceTalk as a Skill” activity — ready to use in your classroom.

• Strategies for using the first day of class to set a foundation for antiracist pedagogy and shared expectations.

•  A framework for reducing harm and burden on students of color while engaging white students productively.

• Practical scripts for addressing silence, resistance, and incivility with confidence and care.

• Tools to build trust, accountability, and community in classrooms where race is not avoided but discussed openly.

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This Workshop Is For You If…

• You teach courses that engage with issues of race or inequality in any discipline.

• You’ve faced student resistance, silence, or defensiveness when race is discussed.

• You’re concerned about how to facilitate these conversations without harm.

• You’ve received feedback that your teaching is “political” or “biased.”

• You want to leave class feeling confident, supported, and proud of the learning space you created.

• Whether you’re a graduate student teaching for the first time or a seasoned professor, you’ll walk away with strategies that make your classroom more equitable, effective, and sustainable.