Overview

Generations of Americans, dating back to the nation's founding, have regarded schools as essential for developing the knowledge and civic values necessary for sustaining democracy. Yet, as Matthew D. Nelsen argues in The Color of Civics, traditional approaches to civic education are not living up to their promise for many students, particularly students of color from disadvantaged communities. How do we prepare an increasingly diverse generation of Americans for full participation in public life?Drawing on lessons from students and teachers in Chicago, The Color of Civics reimagines the democratic purpose of civic education. Nelsen's findings challenge some of the most widely cited civic education research, arguing that the content of traditional civic education courses privileges the political experiences of white political actors, and in turn, contributes to divergent political behaviors and participatory outcomes across racial and ethnic groups. He presents a new approach to civic education that aims to foster political empowerment by centering historically-grounded conversations about current events as well as critical categories of knowledge--those that highlight the agency and grassroots political action of marginalized groups. This approach increases rates of intended political participation among young people of color and heightens political empathy among white youth. Nelsen also highlights the agency of teachers in processes of socialization, exploring how their attitudes and lived experiences drive the implementation of more empowering civic learning environments. By taking the histories and lived experiences of marginalized communities seriously, The Color of Civics asserts that civics courses can become spaces where young people begin to recognize their own agency, develop empathy, and define the terms of their own political participation. Including novel empirical research and an evidence-based analysis, Nelsen provides practical and useful advice for policymakers that cuts through the noise to focus on what works.

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9780197685648

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The Color of Civics teaches us what America's young people, especially young people of color, learn about the nation's political system, and their place within it. As debates rage about what is discussed in the classroom, this book provides what has been missing in the national conversation: the perspective of young people themselves. If you want to understand how civics is really taught—and what is actually learned—in America's schools, read The Color of Civics. * David Campbell, Packey J. Dee Professor of American Democracy, University of Notre Dame * Armed with the theoretical and methodological tools of a social scientist and the experience of a former elementary school teacher, Nelsen has written a timely, necessary, and inspiring book. The Color of Civics provides welcome optimism that a reimagined, critical civics education can play a vital role in moving us one step closer to one day fulfilling the promise of multiracial democracy. * Hakeem Jefferson, Assistant Professor of Political Science, Stanford University * Nelsen's The Color of Civics is a bold and incredibly important book that examines the role of our education system in shaping civic life and the broader functioning of our democratic system of governance. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding how schools affect the kinds of citizens societies create. In addition, it is a model of how to conduct rigorous and meaningful social science that enriches our understanding of the complex social forces that affect the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of diverse groups of people whose life experiences shape the ways that they approach engaging with one another to create the societies they live in. * Neil Lewis, Jr., Assistant Professor of Communication and Social Behavior, Cornell University *

The Color of Civics teaches us what America's young people, especially young people of color, learn about the nation's political system, and their place within it. As debates rage about what is discussed in the classroom, this book provides what has been missing in the national conversation: the perspective of young people themselves. If you want to understand how civics is really taught-and what is actually learned-in America's schools, read The Color of Civics. * David Campbell, Packey J. Dee Professor of American Democracy, University of Notre Dame * Armed with the theoretical and methodological tools of a social scientist and the experience of a former elementary school teacher, Nelsen has written a timely, necessary, and inspiring book. The Color of Civics provides welcome optimism that a reimagined, critical civics education can play a vital role in moving us one step closer to one day fulfilling the promise of multiracial democracy. * Hakeem Jefferson, Assistant Professor of Political Science, Stanford University * Nelsen's The Color of Civics is a bold and incredibly important book that examines the role of our education system in shaping civic life and the broader functioning of our democratic system of governance. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding how schools affect the kinds of citizens societies create. In addition, it is a model of how to conduct rigorous and meaningful social science that enriches our understanding of the complex social forces that affect the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of diverse groups of people whose life experiences shape the ways that they approach engaging with one another to create the societies they live in. * Neil Lewis, Jr., Assistant Professor of Communication and Social Behavior, Cornell University *

The Color of Civics teaches us what America's young people, especially young people of color, learn about the nation's political system, and their place within it. As debates rage about what is discussed in the classroom, this book provides what has been missing in the national conversation: the perspective of young people themselves. If you want to understand how civics is really taughtDLand what is actually learnedDLin America's schools, read The Color of Civics. * David Campbell, Packey J. Dee Professor of American Democracy, University of Notre Dame * Armed with the theoretical and methodological tools of a social scientist and the experience of a former elementary school teacher, Nelsen has written a timely, necessary, and inspiring book. The Color of Civics provides welcome optimism that a reimagined, critical civics education can play a vital role in moving us one step closer to one day fulfilling the promise of multiracial democracy. * Hakeem Jefferson, Assistant Professor of Political Science, Stanford University * Nelsen's The Color of Civics is a bold and incredibly important book that examines the role of our education system in shaping civic life and the broader functioning of our democratic system of governance. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding how schools affect the kinds of citizens societies create. In addition, it is a model of how to conduct rigorous and meaningful social science that enriches our understanding of the complex social forces that affect the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of diverse groups of people whose life experiences shape the ways that they approach engaging with one another to create the societies they live in. * Neil Lewis, Jr., Assistant Professor of Communication and Social Behavior, Cornell University *

Author Information

Matthew D. Nelsen is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Miami. Prior to entering academia, Matt was a fifth grade public school teacher within the San Antonio Independent School District.

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