Open Admissions: The Poetics and Pedagogy of Toni Cade Bambara, June Jordan, Audre Lorde, and Adrienne Rich in the Era of Free College

by Danica Savonick

Genres: History, Nonfiction

264 pages, Paperback

Published August 30, 2024

Reviews

[Jonathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

impressive archive, but otherwise reductive readings

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has shifted my teaching and my thinking about teaching in so many ways, grounding some practices that I already do in a historical legacy of feminist and abolitionist practices (ungrading, self-assessment, publishing student work) and providing incentive/ideas toward future pedagogical practices (hosting student symposiums open to the public, explicitly connecting student work to the issues they face, etc.)

Toni Cade Bambara - ‘denounced how hierarchical student-teacher relationships nurture psychological dependence on those in positions of authority. This, in turn, can serve the interests of the ruling class by teaching students to accept what those in power tell them to be true” (p. 31)

June Jordan: “how does this study, how does this subject, relate to the truth of my life?” p. 72

June Jordan/Toni Morrison - their practice of publishing student writing as a form of both pedagogical and editorial activism p. 82

If liberatory pedagogy conjures anarchic images of a leaderless classroom, they remind us that structure, too, can be empowering. In fact, we might think of these instructions, sequences, and pathways as a form of radical scaffolding. P. 111

The seemingly contradictory realities of the classroom - how they are sites of social reproduction that can be transformed into sites of alternative worldmaking p. 116-7

Adrienne Rich - “the veins of possibility” run through all students and that the political potential of teaching lies not necessarily in mentoring a handful of highly skilled individuals, but in developing teaching strategies that would benefit all, regardless of their previous academic training, ability, or interest p. 117

Social justice pedagogies must extend beyond the classroom to the material conditions that enable (or foreclose) learning p. 179

Read with UGA Qual book club

[Nathan De Frias · Rating 4 out of 5]

During my reading of Open Admissions, the first thing I noticed was how easy it was to read. Danica Savonick does an excellent job of illustrating the unique work being done within the SEEK program, as well as detailing the work of Bambara, Jordan, Lorde, and Rich in each of their respective chapters in a very inviting way. Although I was initially concerned with the “speculation” that Savonick mentions during the introduction that she will do throughout her piece, I was pleasantly surprised that this was not an issue at all. Additionally, Savonick also clearly defines terms that she will be using in her work, which I found to be very helpful. One thing I noticed during my own reading was that it was a bit difficult finishing the last few pages of each chapter. This is something that does not take away from the excellence of the book, but for me personally, I think each of the chapters stretched a little long. The last thing I’d like to cover here is her ability to weave each chapter together, similar to how each of the four women she writes about would share ideas, syllabi, and sit in each other's classes. In summary, Savonick showcases her passion for teaching led by students for students through some of the methods used by the four women she focuses on throughout this book.

[Em Adamo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic!!! Ahhh made me proud to go to a CUNY! Talks about when CUNY was free and Toni Cade Bambara (I got a whole new perspective of how radical hardcore and cool she was), Audre Lorde, June Jordan, and Adrienne Rich (who was sooo annoying white feminist at times!…) anyway they all taught there and this pulled from their teaching archives with so much depth and care! Thank you Danica! And it was written in Klapper Hall where I been spending all my goddamn time the past 2 years making art! And talks about Cooper in the intro! God bless, needed this one. Was a great gift from the inimitable Sonika Misra

[Cara Scharf · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an educator this was inspiring. Nothing in it was particularly groundbreaking or new to me as someone who studies and practices liberatory pedagogy, but it was fascinating to connect my experiences to those of these literary/activist giants from the recent past, and reflect on how we build on their work.

[Cristina Migliaccio · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a tribute to the iconic scholar-women writers who helped shape activist writing pedagogy at CUNY. Also a testament to how fundamental collaboration and community are to change-making praxis. Educators genuinely committed to disrupting the status quo and committed to inclusivity and access for all students should read this.