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Abstract

The history of US capitalism is one wherein occupations with higher concentrations of workers of color coincide with increased levels of exploitation. Recent studies in education show the way strained and precarious working environments led to the now infamous “teacher shortages.” I employ the lenses of critical studies of race and capitalism to examine the interest convergence dilemma vis-à-vis recent efforts to increase diversity amid substandard labor conditions in teaching. This analysis offers a cautionary note, and absent a major structural intervention, the interests of marginalized groups (i.e., stronger representation) might converge with the interests of capitalism (i.e., cheap labor).

Keywords

teaching critical studies of race labor education inequality neoliberalism capitalism teacher shortage diversity teachers of color interest convergence

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Teacher Diversity as Interest Convergence? A Cautionary Note

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