Includes bibliographical references and index.

Introduction: schooling racial illiteracy: the excavation of racial stress and resilience through storytelling -- If elephants could talk: stress and incompetence in the politics of American race relations -- Recasting the history of racial "firsts": dancing around stereotypes in American schools -- Fearing racial discourse: the socialization of racial threat in schools -- Recasting racial threat: a model for coping and assertiveness during conflicts -- Walking while talking: what parents and educators can do to promote racial literacy -- Racial literacy as civil disobedience: practicing racial assertiveness in schools.

"Based on extensive research, this provocative volume explores how schools are places where racial conflicts often remain hidden at the expense of a healthy school climate and the well-being of students of color. Most schools fail to act on racial microaggressions because the stress of negotiating such conflicts is extremely high due to fears of incompetence, public exposure, and accusation. Instead of facing these conflicts head on, schools perpetuate a set of avoidance or coping strategies. The author of this much-needed book uncovers how racial stress undermines student achievement. Students, educators, and social service support staff will find workable strategies to improve their racial literacy skills to read, recast, and resolve racially stressful encounters when they happen." -- Publisher's description.