Teaching for Liberation: On Freedom Dreaming in the Field of Hip–Hop Education(4 Hip-Hop Education)

In celebration of hip-hop’s 50th anniversary, the authors interviewed scholars and community-engaged educators who have contributed to the field of hiphop and education with the goal of reflecting on established research and activism within the field of hip-hop and education. Hip-hop is a culture and art form that was created to advocate and share the experiences and expressions of groups who have been pushed to the margins of society by oppressive practices. Since the 1970s, hip-hop has evolved to become a culture that transcends global borders and all industries including education. The field of hip-hop and education continues to contribute to educational research with innovative concepts and philosophies, scholars have and continue to interrogate how hip-hop can be used and incorporated across all educational spaces. In this text, scholars and educators were given an opportunity radically dream about the future of hip-hop and education. Their thoughts and perspectives were analyzed and interrogated through the context of educational research. The authors hope that this text serves as a pathway towards not just dismantling oppressive educational structures but dreaming and building what empowering and liberatory education through hip-hop could be across all educational spaces.

Table of Contents:
Foreword – Introduction – Centering Youth Culture in Hip- Hop Education: Keeping it Real with Gloria Ladson- Billings – Intentional Centering of Hip- Hop within and beyond Educational Spaces: Keeping it Real with P. Thandi Hicks Harper – Interrogating Anti- Blackness in Relationship to Hip-Hop: Keeping it Real with Ian Levy – Towards a Critical Centering of Youth Perspectives on Hip- Hop Education: Keeping it Real with David Stovall – Cultivating Intersectional Perspectives of Hip- Hop Education: Keeping it Real with Marcella Runell Hall – On Youth- Centered Hip- Hop Pedagogies and Praxis: Keeping it Real with Lauren Kelly – On Authenticity from a Student and Teacher Perspective: Keeping it Real with Victoria Richardson – The Power of Hip- Hop as a Tool: Keeping it Real with Christopher Emdin – Towards Realizing Freedom Dreams: Reflections and Next Steps.

About the Author :
Dr. Edmund Adjapong is an associate professor in the Educational Studies Department at Seton Hall University. Dr. Adjapong is a STEM and Urban Education advocate whose work and research address issues of race, class, inequities in education, and misperceptions of urban youth. His current focus is on how to incorporate youth culture into educational spaces, specifically on utilizing hiphop culture and sensibilities as an approach to teaching and learning. Dr. Kelly Allen is Assistant Professor of Curriculum Studies in the College of Education and Human Development at Augusta University. Dr. Allen’s work and research is interested in the disruption of racism and inequities in education. Currently, her work examines the intersection of culture, race, curriculum, and pedagogy, especially in the implementation of hip-hop education.

Review :
“Adjapong and Allen’s book offers a glimpse into the thinking of prominent scholars and educators who have been critical to the development of the field of Hip Hop Education. If you weren’t backstage, or in the teacher’s lounge, this book takes you there.” Casey Philip Wong, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Social Foundations of Education at Georgia State University “In their insightful new book, “Teaching for Liberation,” Adjapong and Allen remind us that, first and foremost, hip-hop is a culture of possibility. The history of hip-hop illustrates the magic that happens when we allow youth to be free. By pushing us to re-member the cultural and soulful spirit that formed its roots, the authors compel us to give Black and Latinx youth their long due respect. This book also honors the researchers who have long valued the ingenuity of hip-hop youth and staked careers on documenting that brilliance. In the beautiful tradition of the porch and the stoop, readers are gifted the opportunity to witness rich conversations with hip-hop intellectual trailblazers. In these truth-telling talks, these prolific scholars reflect on how far we have come and use that prideful history to propel us forward in new, life-giving directions.” Toby Jenkins, Associate Provost & Professor University of South Carolina “Teaching for Liberation is a must-read that propels its readers into the urgent work of dreaming into the future of hip-hop education. It sits us at the feet of noted scholars, decades of research, wisdom, and practice to forward the critical power of hip-hop culture and educational justice.” Jamila Lyiscott, Associate Professor of Social Justice Education Founding Co-director of The Center of Racial Justice and Youth Engaged Research University of Massachusetts Amherst “As Hip Hop has reached its 50th year, and as the field of Hip Hop Education has further matured, Adjapong and Allen interrogate the most pressing questions facing the field and its praxisioners today. This book is a compilation of wisdom from Hip Hop Education’s most influential and forward-thinking sages. Both in form and substance, Adjapong and Allen stretch our imagination for the radical possibilities for the future of Hip Hop Education and education writ-large.” Daren Graves, Professor of Social Work and Education Simmons University “Teaching for Liberation is a powerful journey into our wildest dreams for the future of education and hip-hop. Grounding this exploration in conversations with pivotal scholars and community-engaged educators, Drs. Adjapong and Allen engage readers in a dialogue that honors hip-hop’s 50-year history, reflects on where the field of hip-hop education is now and bridges theory and practice providing practical tools to begin working toward a future rooted in empowerment and liberation.” Courtney Rose, Professor of Education, Public Scholar and Author of Woven Together: How Unpacking Your Teaching Identity Creates a Stronger Learning Community