Key People (Subject Specific Scholars)

Summary

All items listed in the REAL resource bank were suggested by research participants of the ‘Exploring Race and Ethnicity on Social Science Degree Programmes’ project, or colleagues at University of Brighton, as resources they had found useful in their own teaching. They are not intended as definitive recommendations from the project team, and readers should make their own judgements as to which items would be most useful and appropriate for their needs. Similarly, the short summaries of each listed item are meant as approximate indicators rather than comprehensive synopses and should act primarily as a starting point for further exploration.

Gurminder Bhambra
A leading historical sociologist and theorist of modernity, Gurminder K. Bhambra challenges Eurocentric narratives within the social sciences. Her work on connected sociologies and reparatory sociology rethinks global histories of colonialism, advocating epistemological justice and the reconstruction of social theory through recognition of empire’s formative role in modern knowledge.

Kalwant Bhopal

A leading scholar of education and social justice, Kalwant Bhopal examines how racism, exclusion, and privilege shape experiences within predominantly white institutions. Her research on minority ethnic groups and the position of academics of colour has informed higher education policy and advanced debates on equity, inclusion, and intersectionality.

Gloria Swindler Boutte

Gloria Swindler Boutte champions equity pedagogies and African Diaspora literacy through influential scholarship and award-winning books. Her work centres the brilliance of Black children, advances culturally relevant teaching, and transforms understandings of language, literacy, and identity. Through research, writing, and global advocacy, she nurtures educational justice and revolutionary love.

Nathaniel Coleman

Nathaniel Adam Tobias Coleman is a philosopher whose work interrogates the racialized and colonial foundations of academic philosophy. Through initiatives like Why Is My Curriculum White? and Why Isn’t My Professor Black?, they expose how whiteness shapes knowledge, calling for decolonized curricula and fuller recognition of African and diasporic intellectual traditions.

Paul Connolly

Examining how race, ethnicity, and inequality shape early childhood experiences, Paul Connolly has advanced international understanding of diversity and inclusion in education. His research links peacebuilding with equity, influencing policy and practice worldwide through collaborative projects that challenge structural injustice and promote socially just, inclusive learning environments for young children.

Gloria Ladson-Billings

An influential educational theorist, Gloria Ladson-Billings transformed understandings of race and pedagogy through her work on culturally relevant teaching and Critical Race Theory in education. Her research on successful teachers of African American students has reshaped educational practice, equity policy, and debates about justice and achievement in U.S. schooling.

 David Gillborn

A leading scholar of race and education, David Gillborn’s research examines how systemic racism shapes educational policy and practice. Drawing on Critical Race Theory, his work exposes the shifting mechanisms of inequality within schooling and advances critical approaches to understanding and challenging racial injustice in education systems.

Notisha Massaquoi

Notisha Massaquoi draws on critical race theory, African queer theory, and Black feminist thought, to reveal how anti-Black racism structures Canadian health systems. Through decades of advocacy and scholarship, she has advanced health equity, amplifying Black and LGBTQ2+ voices while transforming understandings of race, gender, and justice within public health.

Cynthia Okpokiri

Exploring how race, culture, and social policy intersect in child welfare, Cynthia Okpokiri advances new understandings of Black parenting through her concept of requisite parenting©. Bridging research and frontline practice, her work redefines safeguarding, amplifies African and diasporic perspectives, and reshapes social work’s approach to equity, family, and justice.

Tina Patel

Tina G. Patel researches race, ethnicity, and marginalised experiences in crime, justice, and policing. Her work explores systemic racism, urban inequality, and societal change, producing accessible scholarship that informs policy and practice. She also contributes to higher education leadership, mentoring, and advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion in the UK.

 Rudine Sims Bishop

Celebrated as the “mother of multicultural literature,” Rudine Sims Bishop transformed children’s literature by showing that all children need stories reflecting their own lives and the lives of others. Her influential concept of books as mirrors, windows, and sliding glass doors reshaped understandings of representation, belonging, and diversity in education.

 Mariana Souto-Manning

Mariana Souto-Manning challenges inequities in early childhood education by centring the experiences of minoritized children and communities of colour. Her research examines literacy, languaging, and teacher preparation through critical, community-based approaches, addressing colonization, oppression, and assimilation. Her scholarship advances inclusive pedagogy and equitable teaching practices across global educational contexts.

Prospera Tedam

Prospera Tedam investigates how social work education can produce culturally responsive practitioners, using Critical Race Theory to address anti-racism, anti-oppression, and decolonizing approaches. Her research spans school social work, diverse family engagement, and equitable practice. Through scholarship and editorial leadership, she shapes theory, policy, and practice for inclusive social work globally.