Critical Literacy with Young Adult Literature and Students’ Perception of Race: A Study of How Critical Literacy with YAL affects the way Students Perceive and Talk about Race

The research question that led this study is how do students perceive race through using critical literacy when reading young adult literature? Qualitative and quantitative methods were used through interviews, collecting student work, and an audio recording of a critical literacy lesson. Three themes emerged: participants believe police brutality is unjust, and mostly against blacks; reading YAL about racism, with critical literacy is an engaging learning experience; and participants think that racism is when a group has more power over another. Three implications emerged from the data: YAL is engaging to students and promotes learning; race should be discussed in the classroom; and critical literacy can be used to promote social justice.