Call for Submissions: AJE Forum 2022 John R. Lewis Good Trouble Series
On June 12, 2020, the American Journal of Education Forum Editorial Board published a statement outlining the Forum’s commitment to racial justice and reform, specifically within educational spaces. Countless organizations, corporations, and individuals released similar statements during that time, outlining their commitments and stating that Black lives do in fact matter.
In February 2021, we launched the John R. Lewis Good Trouble Series that highlighted the works and opinions of Black scholars within education. This series featured several pieces including those that explored decolonizing Black history curricula in K-12 schools, how Black lives can and should matter at historically White institutions, and Black thriving and joy within academia to name a few. Our primary commitments in this series remain the same as last year, namely:
1. Centering Black scholars in our work
2. Taking steps to ensure that Black scholars are invited and welcomed to the AJE Forum
3. Curating pieces that reflect current issues related to racial justice, social justice, and economic equality
Therefore, we invite graduate students, academics, practitioners, activists, community members, and those dedicated to transforming the P-20 educational system to submit a brief (500-750 word) essay for the annual John R. Lewis Good Trouble series. Some examples of topics that you might explore are listed below BUT you may also write on any topic related to Blackness, Black lives, and/or Black experiences in education.
1. Creating conditions for Black joy in education
2. Reimagining education and schooling for Black students
3. Experiences of Black graduate students in the academy
4. Addressing anti-Blackness in education
5. Black political power and education
6. Black educational activism
7. Black Mentorship
8. Proposing a research agenda for the betterment of Black students
9. Abolitionist perspectives, Black futurity, and possibilities
10. Legislative censorship on teaching issues of race and racism
Preference will be given to essays submitted by February 11th, 2022, but submissions will be accepted on a rolling basis throughout the month. Once you submit your essay for review, the editorial team will be in contact shortly and may request light edits or revisions.
As we plan to continue to curate and publish pieces by and for Black scholars, we invite you to also consider submitting additional work to the AJE Forum. We remain committed to this series being much more than simply a yearly event, but rather a catalyst for meaningful change within the Forum as we work to fulfill our commitment to racial justice and equity.
