Bettina L. Love

Love interrogates the deep-rooted systemic racism in American education, aiming to transform traditional teaching into a practice that prioritizes abolitionist methods and Black joy. Her work critiques how educational reform often fails marginalized communities, advocating instead for an educational framework that empowers these groups through civic engagement and intersectional justice. This philosophy is vividly illustrated in her influential book "We Want to Do More Than Survive: Abolitionist Teaching and the Pursuit of Educational Freedom," which remains a key text in educational settings. Her scholarship often focuses on Hip Hop education, exploring how urban youth utilize Hip Hop culture to navigate their social and political identities, thereby creating innovative ways to address and dismantle systemic barriers in education.\n\nFor readers and educators alike, Love's contributions serve as both a critique and a roadmap for enacting meaningful change within the education system. Her book "Punished for Dreaming: How School Reform Harms Black Children and How We Heal," a New York Times bestseller, delves into the historical and contemporary policies that continue to disadvantage Black children, offering pathways for healing and transformation. This narrative is not only a bio of the author's intellectual journey but also a call to action for those invested in educational equity. Her efforts have been recognized with numerous accolades, including the Stowe Prize for Literary Activism, highlighting her influence as both an author and a changemaker in the realm of educational justice.