An Intergenerational Conversation Between Dr. Marvin Lynn and Chris Riser: Social Activism and the Black Male Educator

Abstract

Recently, the editor of Northwest Journal of Teacher Education had the opportunity to sit down with Dr. Marvin Lynn, Dean of the College of Education at Portland State University, and Chris Riser, a middle school teacher and social justice activist. Dr. Lynn is a renowned researcher and scholar on race and education, with a specific focus on Critical Race Theory and culturally responsive practices in education. Chris Riser is a passionate educator in his sixth year of teaching who uses an anti-racist lens to engage with the diverse students in his classroom; he is a graduate from the Portland Teachers Program. These two leaders came together for a cross-generational conversation about their experiences as Black male educators, how they engage in social justice educational practices, and to provide advice for teachers of color entering the profession.