Pedagogy of the Poor

Pedagogy of the Poor Synopsis

In this book, the authors present a new kind of interdisciplinary pedagogy that brings together antipoverty grassroots activism and relevant social theories about poverty. Closely linked to the Poverty Initiative at Union Theological Seminary, this unique book combines the oral history of a renowned antipoverty organiser with accessible introductions to relevant social theories, case studies, in-class student debates, and pedagogical reflections. This multilayered approach makes the book useful to both social activists committed to eradicating poverty and educators looking for ways to teach about the struggles for economic and social justice.Pedagogy of the Poor is an essential tool of self-education and leadership development for a broad social movement led by the poor to end poverty.

Featuring a 5-part series of interviews with Willie Baptist, this important book examines:

• Firsthand examples of the poor organising the poor over the past three decades.
• The effect of neoliberalism, high-tech capitalism, and the economic crisis on poverty.
• Theoretical lessons drawn from the Watts Uprising, Martin Luther King Jr.'s Poor People's Campaign, and the National Union of the Homeless.
• The role of religion and morality in the antipoverty movement.
• The relevance of hegemony theory and ideology theory for social movements.
• Resources, methods, and practices for teaching social justice in the secondary classroom.

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