This belief is of such significance that we have devoted an entire chapter to it
This belief is of such significance that we have devoted an entire chapter to it. The topic invites us all to climb a big hill. It is foreign territory for many of us, confusing and intimidating for others, and a long overdue social justice mis- sion for still others. But it is inevitably a vital part of our work as educators. Our goal in this chapter is to urge teachers and school communities to have important and often difficult conversations about cultural diversity and race. These conversations can and should lead to action that creates a more inclusive and productive school experience for everyone. Although this can be difficult work, the rewards are well documented (Ladson-Billings, 1995). An important literature, many decades old, goes into depth on this topic far beyond what we can accomplish in this short chapter. We did, however, want to put a stake in the ground.