Critical Consciousness and Self-Awareness 

In this section, we build a connection between critical consciousness and the cycle of socialization. After completing this section you will better understand how your personal identities have been shaped by implicit and explicit messaging.

What is Critical Consciousness? by Purpose Lab

• Website 
• Read through this web resource and complete the reflection questions embedded within it. 

Mind & Life: Critical Consciousness by Wendy Hasenkamp with Doris Chang

• Podcast | Length – 47:32
  • Alternative text: Link to the transcript.
  • Note: This podcast specifically focuses on the mental health and counseling field. The concept of critical consciousness and the significance of identity development remain the same and can be applied to ourselves. 

Reflection Questions:

•  How did Wendy Hasenkamp and Doris Chang describe critical consciousness?
• How does critical consciousness relate to social justice and equity.
• How do you regularly practice self-reflection? How do you respond to discovering unconscious biases, behaviors, or assumptions about others?
• How does individual critical consciousness relate to boarder societal change?

Cycle of Socialization by Bobbie Harro

• Article | Pages 1–9

Reflection Questions:

Using the stages of “The Cycle of Socialization,” reflect on your identity formation. 

• What are the key influences in your early life that shaped your beliefs and behaviors (e.g., family, school, media)? Describe how those influences shape your identity.
• How did your family and community talk about and interact with different social groups?
• What messages did you receive about your own identity and the identities of others growing up?

Additional Resource:

• Watch: Socialization: Crash Course Sociology #14

The danger of a single story by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

• Video | Length – 18:32 

Reflection Questions

• Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie argues that if you “hear only a single story about another person or country, you risk a critical misunderstanding.” What examples does she provide in her Ted Talk that help you to contextualize this argument?
• What is a single story you learned about an identity or community you do not share?  How was that single story disrupted? 
• What is a single story about you, your identities, or your communities? How does this impact your interactions and experiences with people around you?   

Microaggressions: Death by a Thousand Cuts by Derald Wing Sue 

• Article 

Reflection Questions:

• How are the single stories we know related to microagressions?
• What is the difference between intent and impact? How does this distinction help you understand microaggressions?
• What long-term effects might microaggressions have on an individual?

Additional Resource:

• Watch: How Microaggressions are Like Mosquito Bites by Same Difference

• Read: Recognizing Microaggressions and the Messages They Send 
• Watch/ Listen to: Don’t call people out — call them in by Dr. Loretta J. Ross

Self-awareness is an important part of advancing critical consciousness. In this section, we will build our understanding of critical consciousness and apply the concept to our lived experiences. These resources will ask you to analyze your identities and how they have been informed by your experiences.

Identities & Social Locations: Who am I? Who Are My People? By Gwyn Kirk and Mango Okazawa-Ray in Readings for Diversity and Social Justice 3rd Edition

• Chapter 2 | Pages 10–15
• Available in DeWitt Library and local libraries (WorldCat)

Reflection Questions:

• Kirk & Okazawa-Rey use the terms “micro”, “meso”, and “macro” to describe the different levels at which you experience your social identities. 
• How has gaining insight into these various levels of identity influenced your perception of the society you live in?
• How have you been shaped by the political, social, and economic contexts of your time? 
• How do your contexts differ from your family or friends? 
• How can we find a connection despite our differing social contexts from our friends? Our families? 
• How have your social locations impacted you, the socialization messages you received, and how you understand and express your identities? 

The Complexity of Identity: “Who Am I” by Beverly Tatum in Readings for Diversity and Social Justice 4th Edition 

• Chapter 1 | Pages 7–9 
• Available at local libraries. (WorldCat)

Reflection Questions: 

• How do you think that (what Tatum calls) your “dominant” and your “subordinate” identities have shaped your sense of yourself – as you are today?
• How have your experiences with your dominant identities and subordinate identities evolved throughout different stages of your life?
• Were there any personal experiences that stand out for you that made you especially aware of a “dominant” or “subordinate” identity? (Source: routledgetextbooks.com) 

The Purpose of Power by Alicia Garza 

*Reflection questions will focus on the following chapter(s), however, reading the entire book is recommended for a comprehensive understanding. 

• Book | Chapter One: Where I Am From  
• Available in DeWitt Library and local libraries (WorldCat)

Reflection Questions:

• Garza talks about the importance of understanding power dynamics when advocating for change. How would you apply this understanding to a current social issue (e.g., racial inequality, education, health care) you care about?
• How can you apply the power of relationships and resources for mobilization on a current social issue you care about?
• As described in this chapter, how a shift from hierarchical to relational leadership potentially impact a movement’s effectiveness? What patterns of decision-making and engagement emerge when leadership is shared?

Cracking the Codes: Dr. Joy DeGruy “A Trip to the Grocery Store”

• YouTube | Video Length – 3:18

Reflection Questions: 

• What would you have done if you witnessed or were part of a similar situation like “A Trip to the Grocery Store”?  
• What microaggressions have you observed or experienced in your own life?
• What choices did you make to address or respond to microaggressions directed at you or others?
• How do your identities impact your reactions when you experience microaggressions or when you commit microaggressions? 
• Have you ever committed a microaggression? How did you respond when you were challenged? 
• How will you become more aware of your implicit biases and microaggressions? How will you confront your implicit biases and work through them?

Shared Equity Leadership: Making Equity’s Everyone Work by the American Council on Education 

• Report | Personal Journey Toward Critical Consciousness | Pages: 1–15

Reflection Questions:

• What has been your journey toward critical consciousness? 
• How does your critical consciousness ground you in social justice work?

Read: Implicit Bias (Unconscious Bias): Definition & Examples by Charlotte Ruhl on Simply Psychology

• Article 

Complete: Activity: Harvard Implicit Bias Test 

• There will be a list of Implicit Assessment Tests (IAT) topics you can select from. We recommend beginning with the Race IAT before proceeding with other IATs. We recommend that you only take a few IAT at a time.
• Note: The purpose of this activity is to bring to our attention our implicit bias. It may cause discomfort and feel challenging. Be kind to yourself and practice self-care so that you can engage fully. While difficult, we must become aware of our biases to change them.

Activity Reflection:

• What is implicit bias? How have you experienced implicit bias? 
• How are implicit bias and microaggressions related? 
• Before you took any of the tests, were you aware of some of your biases? How did you become aware of them and what did you do to address your biases? 
• Were you surprised by the results of any of the implicit bias tests you took? Why or why not?
• Considering the results of the test(s) that you took and your understanding of the Cycle of Socialization, how are your identified biases connected to your socialization experience(s)? (Source: Cycle of Socialization by Bobbie Harro)
• If any, which implicit biases do you have that you are challenged by? Why are you challenged? 
• How can you begin to confront your implicit biases?

Watch: Implicit Bias – How it Affects Us and How We Push Through by Melanie Funchess  

In this section, we dive deeper into critical consciousness, connecting it to educational contexts, and learn about social justice concepts and theories used in the pragmatic world to bring forth change. You can then determine which suggested approaches may be most effective to incorporate into your work, organizations, and communities. Lastly, we will build an action plan to address and confront our own implicit biases.

Education for Critical Consciousness by Paulo Freire 

*Reflection questions will focus on the following chapter(s), however, reading the entire book is recommended for a comprehensive understanding. 

• Book | Chapter: Society in Transition 
• Also available in DeWitt Library and local libraries (WorldCat) 

Reflection Questions:

• In an educational context, how have you been prompted to reflect critically about your own social positions, positionality, and responsibilities? 
• How have you been supported to address your responsibilities to advance social justice and equity? 
• How will you seek opportunities or resources to continue to learn and deepen your awareness and work? How will you continue to build your critical consciousness and move towards actionable change in your workplace, communities, or organizations?
• How will you incorporate critical consciousness into your life and the communities you are in relation with? 
• Identity accountability measures (e.g., a timeline, learning group, outcomes) you will implement to continuously strengthen your critical consciousness and self-awareness. 

Building Critical Consciousness for Educational Equity by Nicole West-Burns, Ph.D.

• Video | Length – 17:58

Reflection Questions: 

• Dr. West-Burns refers to the “bad habits” we develop out of comfort and convenience as a metaphorical “balloon.” Recall a time when your “balloon” showed up. 
• How were those around you impacted? How did you become aware of your “balloon”? How did you respond?
• How does critical consciousness help you become more aware of other “balloons” you may be carrying? What work will you do to nurture this awareness? 
• Create an action plan for the next time you fall back into bad habits or implicit biases. 
• Create an action plan to increase your awareness, change your habits, and prevent harmful biases from showing up in your work.
• What self-work do you need to do to be more aware of your biases and habits? How do you embrace vulnerability for learning and to be open to feedback? 

Theoretical Foundations for Social Justice by Lee Anne Bell 

• Chapter 1 | Pages: 15–31 (Begin at “Working for Social Justice”) 

Reflection Questions: 

• Using each concept Bell shares in “Working for Social Justice,” reflect on how each can be used to challenge and change the systems of domination in both the external world and individual level.
• Based on the communities, groups, or organizations you are part of, which concept(s) would be the most applicable and effective in addressing change? How do you determine which concept(s) would be the most effective? 

Listen to: Disability Visibility Project Podcast hosted by Alice Wong

• Episode 21: Disabled Comedians with Maysoon Zayid and Danielle Perez
  • Length – 34:19
  • Note: From the link above, you can access the transcript.

Reflection Questions: 

• How have Maysoon and Danielle created an impact through their work as comedians? 
• How can you create impact through your own work? How can you involve others in this change? 

Action Planning: Download and complete the Implicit Bias Action Plan.