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I Heard What You Said

A Black Teacher, A White System

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I Heard What You Said

By: Jeffrey Boakye
Narrated by: Jeffrey Boakye
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About this listen

An Amazon Best Non-Fiction Book of 2022

Before Jeffrey Boakye was a black teacher, he was a black student. Which means he has spent a lifetime navigating places of learning that are white by default. Since training to teach, he has often been the only black teacher at school. At times seen as a role model, at others a source of curiosity, Boakye’s is a journey of exploration–from the outside looking in.

In the groundbreaking I Heard What You Said, he recounts how it feels to be on the margins of the British education system. As a black, male teacher–an English teacher who has had to teach problematic texts–his very existence is a provocation to the status quo, giving him a unique perspective on the UK’s classrooms.

Through a series of eye-opening encounters based on the often challenging and sometimes outrageous things people have said to him or about him, Boakye reflects on what he has found out about the habits, presumptions, silences and distortions that black students and teachers experience, and which underpin British education.

Thought-provoking, witty and completely unafraid, I Heard What You Said is a timely exploration of how we can dismantle racism in the classroom and do better by all our students.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2022 Jeffrey Boakye (P)2022 Macmillan Publishers International Limited
Education Educators Witty Inspiring Thought-Provoking Student
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What listeners say about I Heard What You Said

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Brilliant, inspiring, informative

An absolute for educators and the wider audience that care about the society we live in.
Thank you Mr Boakye

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Gave me much to consider and reconsider

I'm a white woman English teacher with many years of experience in London schools. I loved his reflective and self-referential style. And the fact that he made me think about what more I MUST do

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A well-written example of the experience of Black people

I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to increase their understanding of the subtle ways that prejudice and racism can present themselves.

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A must read!

This book speaks to every single step I have taken during my many years of teaching. I’ve read it once and will read it many more. Anyone, but not only, who has the honor and privilege to be a teacher should read “I Heard What You Said”

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Excellent

A masterpiece as good as any other on the topic.

Paul Gilroy for the 21st Century

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vital listening

A must read for every educator in the British (white world). The author presents the racialised world we all inhabit and addresses the elephant in the schoolrooms as well as society - this is not one man's opinion but a way of seeing for minority ethnic people. Ignor at your own peril.

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An awesome book

Thank you for putting into words, the often unexplainable thoughts, feelings and experiences that many black teachers including myself have felt. A must read for all teachers entering the teaching profession.

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Excellent

A brilliant learning journey for me. Hope to take this vital knowledge into my own teaching.

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Absolutely necessary

Very accessible analysis of how racism affects us all. Boakye has turned engaging real life encounters into a powerful dissection of how racism is still perpetuated in our schools and how it affects our children and therefore society as a whole.

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Life-changing

Every school leader and teacher needs to read this book. A well-written and reflective insight into school life. Whilst this book is humorous, it is also deeply shocking as deep-rooted prejudices are exposed. Reading this book, will inspire you to change culture.

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