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Empowering educators: Dawnavyn James transcends academia to share Black history teaching expertise
BY DANIELLE LEGARE
In a recent TikTok, GSE PhD student Dawnavyn James reacted to a timely concern. The text in the video read, “Ummm … those books you’re reading to your kindergarteners are banned!”
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She responded by smiling, winking at the camera and lip-syncing along to the music in the video: “I don’t give a damn about that.” James’ TikTok has been watched over because of her Black history education expertise and resources.
James moved to Buffalo from Kansas City, Missouri, in 2022 to pursue her research interests in teaching Black history in elementary schools. As a PhD student in the Department of Learning and Instruction, she focuses her research on teaching with Black history picture books—a powerful resource for educators of young learners, according to Black History and Racial Literacy Education, history education and creating communities
Where does that passion come from? Her been nice because the reason that I’m doing how important education is in the elementary center and associate star within the Black history atmosphere, and I knew if I enticed her to come to Buffalo, my job would be much easier,” he said. “She adds tremendous value to not only GSE, the center and me, but to the city of Buffalo and the country.”
James has only just gotten started. When she’s not studying, presenting at conferences, posting on social media, or exploring Buffalo’s local restaurants and bookstores, she is giving back to teachers in a new way: She’s writing a book, “Beyond February.”
The book, which will be published in November, will guide elementary educators on effectively and meaningfully teaching Black history all year round. “Oftentimes people say, ‘They’re too young,’ or ‘They can’t talk about race,’” explained James. “Kindergarteners are a lot more brilliant than we think they are, and I think we underestimate their knowledge and what they can have conversations about.”
“I want to help teachers. I really do,” said James. “Whether they’re preservice or active teachers in the classroom now, I really want to support them.”
