Human Rights Education Now!
Human Rights Education Now! is a podcast that aims to (1) inform a broader audience in the U.S. and internationally about human rights education (HRE) stories, practices, related issues and theories, (2) expand awareness and knowledge about HRE USA and its programs, and (3) engage partner individuals, groups and organizations in changing the conversation about rights in the U.S. to one employing a human rights education lens.
Human Rights Education Now!
Episode 57: Loretta J. Ross, Part Two
Loretta J. Ross discusses her approach to teaching about white supremacy, framing it as both an ideology and a social construct tied to identity. She emphasizes the importance of truth, evidence, and history in defending academic freedom—especially in the face of authoritarian practices like those seen during the Trump administration. Loretta offers strategic recommendations for institutions under attack, advocating a "Block and Build" approach and urging Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts to align with the legal and moral power of human rights. She highlights human rights education as an accessible, non-threatening tool rooted in dignity and justice, especially important for marginalized communities. Loretta underscores the need for children to learn the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and credits Shulamith Koenig and Maya Angelou as key influences in her work.
Topics Discussed:
- Teaching white supremacy: Ideology vs. Identity; combating fascism through academic freedom
- Institutional strategy: "Block and Build" approach; pivot DEI to human rights framework
- Human rights education: Universal, legally grounded, and dignity-centered; critical for underserved communities
- Historical advocacy: Raising the minimum wage and expanding the definition of human rights beyond civil/political rights
- Role models: Influence of Shulamith Koenig and Maya Angelou’s legacy
- Education reform: Advocacy for including UDHR in K–12 public education
- Final reflections on lasting emotional impact over words
Full topic listing available for PDF download HERE.
Listen on our Buzzsprout podcast website HERE.
Introduction and Closing Music Credit: “Awakening-Spring” by Ketsa, from the Album Night Vision. Available at the Free Music Archive: https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Ketsa/night-vision/awakening-spring/
This music is used in accordance with this Creative Commons License: Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Information about that license is available here https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Human Rights Education Now! is produced and distributed in accordance with Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 DEED, Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International. Information about this license is available here: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/