Exorcising the Racism Phantasm: Racial Realism in Educational Research

Based on a 3-year ethnographic project at a public elementary school in North Carolina, this article discusses how the concept of racial realism can be useful to researchers trying to live up to the goals of critical race studies in school-based research. Racial realism maintains that racism is a permanent aspect of U.S. society and schools. A racial realist stance involves acknowledging that permanent nature and making the commitment to challenge racism regardless. Taking this stance can help researchers focus on the material ways that racism affects students of color and support the work of teachers who are pursuing antiracist goals. © 2016, Springer Science+Business Media New York.