A DuBoisan Approach to Civic Education

• In Event: Civic Learning on Campus: Bringing Political Science In Mini-Conference III: Political Theorists on Civic Education

Abstract

This paper presents a DuBoisian approach to civic education. The paper first situates W.E.B. Du Bois as a central figure in discussions of civic education in the United States by highlighting his work that explicitly engages with questions surrounding democratic education for African Americans. Du Bois’ writings demonstrate that he understood the importance of inclusive curricula and meaningful conversations about politics within processes of political socialization, a finding reflected in more recent work aiming to revitalize civic education in the United States. He also recognized the importance of educational institutions that primarily serve Black students within processes of political learning. Drawing from these insights, the paper presents analyses from a nationally representative survey of Americans to assess whether the tangible pedagogical techniques and learning outcomes promoted by Du Bois are able to win favor with important subsets of Americans. As Republicans weaponize debates over educational content to mobilize their base and Democrats struggle with how to respond, a DuBosian approach to civic education may provide a meaningful path forward for those hoping to revitalize civic education in the United States.

Author

• Matthew D. Nelsen, University of Miami