Teaching with Color: Thematic Hires and the Politics of Teaching in Texas

In Teaching Community: A Pedagogy of Hope (2003), bell hooks describes Feminist Studies, Race and Ethnic Studies, and fields critical of the existing dominant structures as under attack from the conservative right. Twenty years later, this has become a reality across most academic spaces, exemplified by anti-Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion legislation targeting higher education. This article reflects on their experiences as early career scholars of color in Texas, hired at a small, private liberal arts university as “thematic hires.” Despite the “protections” afforded by the private institution, this article demonstrates how the social, geographic, and political context of Texas shapes the pedagogies, challenges, and hopes of these scholars. Collectively, these scholars propose different ways the classroom can be used as a location to challenge institutional norms and foster joy for a diverse, inclusive future, while also acknowledging the burdensome nature of the work. This article joins a growing conversation in the humanities and humanistic social sciences on ways faculty of color shoulder the burden of thinking about our shared futures as racialized, intersectional, and collaborative.