ABSTRACT
This chapter proposes that the recent turn toward critical consciousness in dual language bilingual education (DLBE) and related fields warrants examination of the role of Black leadership in decentering whiteness in DLBE. The case narrative depicts how a Black principal engaged in efforts to disrupt whiteness in a French language open-enrollment charter school, and the challenges encountered. While research on the impact of Black leadership in DLBE remains limited, this chapter begins the work of filling this gap by highlighting the pivotal role that Black leadership plays in cultivating belongingness among Black youth and advancing antiracist practices in DLBE. We argue that because Black school leaders are fundamental to driving equity efforts, they serve as a critical antidote to white supremacy culture. Strategies to activate critical consciousness in DLBE must therefore include deliberate policies and practices to debias talent and hire, promote, and retain Black leadership.
