Be of Good Use: Exploring the Intersection of Critical Race Theory and Postcritical Ethnography

Critical Race Theory (CRT) and postcritical ethnography (PCE) share a commitment to justice, social transformation, deep belief in the democratic project, and mutual interests in challenging dominant stories that reinforce the social order as natural, and centering the experiential knowledge of people on the margins of society. In this chapter the author discusses the relationships critical race/postcritical ethnographers hold to people, place, and their political commitments. Reflecting on her long-term work with Black educators in New Orleans post-Katrina, she interrogates the role of critical race theory and postcritical orientations in her work. Examining her racially informed writing and research methodology, she uses multiple stories to invite readers into the strategic choices she made about her approach and how it evolved over time.