For nearly 60 years, Dr. James A. Banks has worked to change a simple but powerful idea: whose stories matter in school. A KDP Laureate member and one of the leading voices in multicultural education, Dr. Banks dedicated his career to expanding educational opportunity and ensuring that students from every racial, cultural, and linguistic background are seen and supported in the classroom. He served as the Kerry and Linda Killinger Endowed Chair in Diversity Studies and is now Emeritus at the University of Washington.
His story begins in the rural South, where he attended racially segregated schools as a child and worked on farms while growing up. In those classrooms, he watched his teachers closely. They understood the challenges their students faced and worked hard to help them succeed.
“I think it was observing how my African American teachers in the racially segregated schools worked hard to nurture and support kids like me,” Dr. Banks says.
Those teachers were doing more than teaching reading, writing, and math. They were opening doors. Their determination left a lasting mark and sparked Dr. Banks’ own commitment to education.
Over the decades, his work helped shape the fields of ethnic studies, multicultural education, and social studies education. He encouraged schools and universities to think differently about curriculum and to recognize the many cultures, histories, and perspectives that make up the American story.
Today, he believes that mission is more urgent than ever.
“We are now facing attacks on initiatives to implement diversity, equity, and inclusion like I have never seen in my life and career,” Dr. Banks says. His message to educators is simple and direct. Stay committed to the work.
He believes education should help students develop the knowledge and awareness needed to recognize injustice and uncover the silences and erasures surrounding racism and inequality. Schools, he says, should prepare students to take action in their communities, across the nation, and around the world to help create more equitable and just societies.
As a KDP Laureate, Dr. James A. Banks represents a lifetime of leadership and purpose. His work continues to inspire educators who believe classrooms should not only teach knowledge but also help shape a more just and inclusive future. Read More KDP Laureate Stories