Elizabeth Drame, Ph.D.
Elizabeth Drame, Ph.D. is a special educator, racial justice advocate, participatory action researcher, traveler, connector and mother. In her work, she collaborates with Black mothers, community advocates, educators and students to create spaces where Black people’s narratives drive equity change. She is a Professor in the Department of Teaching and Learning at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee where she prepares special educators, coordinates the Autism Spectrum Disorders Certificate Program, and chairs the department. She earned her Ph.D. in Learning Disabilities/Communication Sciences and Disorders from Northwestern University and served as a U.S. Fulbright Senior Research Fellow in the African Regional Research Program from 2011-2012 and 2018-2020.
Thursday, June 3, 2021 | 12:30 PM - 2:30 PM (CDT)
Scared stiff: Confronting the Impact of Deficit-Oriented Beliefs About Black Kids' Behavior
Many teachers ask, what are effective ways to teach ‘children of color’? Translation: How can I deal with these Black kids’ behaviors, so that they can achieve despite the fact that they have trauma, come from poor communities, have parents who don’t care etc.? I ask participants to bring to this workshop, a readiness for and the courage to surface personal biases about Black kids’ behaviors and worth. You will explore personal deficit-oriented biases, grounded in racism/ableism and compounded by whiteness. You will be asked to turn your gaze inward to unpack how specific beliefs you hold about Black behavior influence your practices, resulting in racially inequitable outcomes for Black students.
