Cleveland Hayes

Creative Resistance to Critical Race Art: Co-Creating an Urban Based Resistance Arts Curriculum

Dr. Cleveland Hayes focuses his research on the use of Critical Race Theory in education, historical and contemporary issues in Black education that include the school to prison pipeline, teaching and learning in the Latino community, and Whiteness and the intersections of sexuality and race.

The ideas and origins of critical pedagogy have spawned unique perspectives and contributions that other scholars, in different disciplines, have now incorporated in developing modernized approaches to critical pedagogy. Because resistance is a form of negotiation directed towards school-based hegemony, using Critical Race Theory this project will illustrate this teachers’ ability to use art as a form of negotiation to challenge the limitations faced by urban students. Critical art educators need to show a commitment to developing awareness, to expose and challenge socio-economic constructs, and discuss oppressive structures of power that affect students of color.

Dr. Hayes' translation of research into racial justice and empowerment for students of color is another excellent example of how IUPUI's faculty members are TRANSLATING their RESEARCH INTO PRACTICE.