The Silenced Dialogue: Power and Pedagogy in Educating Other People’s Children

Chapter 2: The Silenced Dialogue: Power and Pedagogy in Educating Other People’s Children

In this chapter, Delpit discusses “the silenced dialogue” that she perceives as a persistent and troublesome problem in the American education system. The author relates how nonwhite educators have passionately spoken out about being left out of the conversation concerning how to best educate children of color. Delpit examines the issues that create these complete communication blocks through the lens of her theme, “the culture of power.”

1. According to Delpit, what is “the culture of power”?
2. What are some of the issues that create the communication blocks that the author examines? How can educators (and society) bridge this gap?