This book presents narratives of eminent social justice educators which provide a window into
why these educators have made it their mission to educate for attainment of social justice it
succinctly defines what social justice education is and what it is not. Eleven nationally and
internationally eminent narratives of social justice educators namely Beverly Daniel Tatum
Sonia Nieto Kevin Kumashiro Valerie Ooka Pang Teresita Aguilar Gaille Canella Christine
Sleeter Julie Andrzejewski Norma Bailey Kent Koppelman and Cathy Pohan are featured.
Racial gender socio-economic class and sexuality diversity of the social justice educators
enriches the book by providing multidimensional perspectives on the impact of social
positioning in choosing to educate for social justice. Chapter One Introduction to Social
Justice Educators provides an in-depth introduction to the social justice educators who are
featured in the book. It delineates reasons they were selected to participate in the study of
narratives for social justice educators. This chapter highlights diverse paths that contributed
to the participants engaging in social justice education and outlines all their contributions
to social justice education. Chapter Two Personal Influence describes the participants'
personal influences and how formative years of interacting with family members and peers
contributed in shaping their identities as social justice educators. In addition this chapter
examines how their varied racial gender and sexuality identities served to prepare them for
their profession. Chapter Three Professional Influence offers a window into the participants'
professional life influences on their choice to work toward social justice education. The
educators discuss the impact of individual teachers and professors the field in which they
work and exposure to specific curriculum and readings that served to ignite their interest in
educating for social justice. Chapter Four Impact of Social and Historical Events explores
the influence of social and historical events had in the evolution of social justice educators.
Such events compelled social justice educators to critically reflect on their roles in society
and the importance of engaging in social justice activism through their work. Chapter Five
Reasons for Standing Firm focuses on reasons that keep social justice educators holding firm
to their convictions of social justice education and teaching for social change. It explores
the role of spirituality and their sense of commitment. Chapter Six Epilogue offers a
synthesis of the experiences of social justice educators implications for teacher education
programs and lessons that can be gleaned from their narratives. Stories from the social
justice educators provide theoretical and pedagogical frameworks for teaching about social
justice issues in education. Each chapter concludes with lessons that can be gleaned from the
narratives and applied when working with students.¿
