I Have Been Waiting: Race and U.S. Higher Education

While much progress has been made towards the quest for racial equality in the education system, there is still much work to be done. In 'I Have Been Waiting', Jennifer Simpson pays explicit attention to the ways in which systems of higher education have excluded people of colour, and how white students and teachers might better address issues of race and racism in educational settings. Simpson's argument is wide-ranging and incisive. She examines the role of history and the link between racial agency and racial memories; she probes epistemology, claims to authority, and the limits of a knowledge base that draws primarily on what white people know; she analyzes cross-racial dialogues - including barriers and steps to implementation - to reveal the prevalence of assimilationist approaches; and she reiterates the importance of making whiteness visible. Methodologically, Simpson draws heavily on autoethnography and social analysis, but also provides an excellent historical overview of the issues central to race and higher education, as well a rigorous examination of theoretical discourse from fields including pedagogy, whiteness studies, and feminist thought. 'I Have Been Waiting' is an important work, confirming that sustained attention to issues of race in higher education is both difficult and necessary. Suitable for course use, each chapter addresses a particular challenge in the area of race and education, and offers practical guidelines for those interested in anti-racist change. An appendix provides discussion, questions, exercise, and assignments.

Table of Contents:
Introduction: Race and Higher Education Resisting 'Sympathy and Yet Distance': The Connection of Race, Memory, and History We Are Not Enough: Epistemology and the Production of Knowledge The Challenges and Possibilities of Cross-Racial Dialogue 'Racism Is Not a Theory': Race Matters in the Classroom

About the Author :
Jennifer S. Simpson is Dean, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Memorial University, Newfoundland..

Review :
'For too long matters of race and racism have been removed from a rigorous and critical engagement with feminist discourses and the politics of higher education. Jennifer Simpson fills that gap in 'I Have Been Waiting.' This book is insightful, passionate, and absolutely necessary - a perfect intervention at a time when many believe that racism is a thing of the past and higher education no longer needs to address issues of race, pedagogy, feminism, and racism. This is a must read for educators, students, parents, and others concerned about racial justice and the fate of democracy.' --Henry A. Giroux, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, Pennsylvania State University 'Jennifer S. Simpson represents the new generation of white writers willing to put their own race privilege under the scholarly microscope to dismantle racism. Her efforts are to be applauded and appreciated as few of her peers have followed such a courageous path. Her book 'I Have Been Waiting' is bound to educate many as well as disturb the status quo.' --Aida Hurtado, Department of Psychology, University of California, Santa Cruz ' 'I Have Been Waiting' is well written, clear, and constructive... Simpson puts forward several new points on a socially important topic - that of diversity and whiteness in higher education. A particular strength of her book is the way it combines practical suggestions for the improvement of instruction and dialogue with high theory.' --Richard Delgado, School of Law, University of Colorado at Boulder