The Color of Civics

Abstract This book explores how to forge more empowering and equitable spaces for civic learning by centering the agency and lived experiences of marginalized groups. It reimagines the role of education in preparing all kids for democratic participation, highlights a crucial point of political socialization, and provides actionable advice for policymakers hoping to equalize democratic opportunities for young people in the United States. The book makes four primary claims. First, it argues that traditional civic education courses have not lived up to their promise to foster democratic capacity, especially for marginalized students. In response, it presents a new approach to civic education that aims to foster political empowerment by centering critical categories of knowledge—those that highlight the agency and grassroots political action of marginalized groups—and historically grounded conversations about politics. Second, it demonstrates that such an approach to civic education increases rates of intended political participation among young people of color and heightens political empathy among white youth. Third, it highlights the agency of teachers in processes of socialization, exploring how their attitudes and lived experiences drive the creation and implementation of more empowering civic learning environments. Fourth, it argues that teachers and students—those who spend the most time in social studies classrooms—should drive initiatives to revitalize civic education. These insights should inform the work of policymakers looking to make civic education more empowering for young people throughout the United States.