SPE-105-01 intro to intercultural communication

Critical Perspectives Reflection Assignment

Analyzing Systems and Finding Your Voice

Assignment Overview

For this assignment, you’ll read the article “Toward a Tribal Critical Race Theory in Education” and reflect on how systems of power, education, and identity intersect in your own life experiences. This is an opportunity to analyze concepts from the reading and apply them to your personal journey.

Total Points: 30

Due Date: May 29, 2026

Purpose

This assignment connects to our course objectives by helping you:

• Apply rhetorical theories to analyze systems and structures
• Demonstrate rhetorical sensitivity to diversity, equity, and belonging
• Analyze how power operates in educational and social contexts
• Practice ethical communication about sensitive topics
• Connect academic concepts to lived experiences

Article Access

Citation: Brayboy, B.M.J. (2005). Toward a tribal critical race theory in education. The Urban Review, 37, 425446.

Assignment Instructions

After carefully reading the article, respond to the following prompts. Each response should demonstrate critical thinking and connect the article’s concepts to your own experiences and observations.

Part 1: Understanding Key Concepts (10 points)

Choose TWO of the following concepts from the article and explain them in your own words (150-200 words each):

• Colonization as endemic to society
• The concept of “liminal spaces” in education
• How stories serve as theory and method
• The relationship between power and knowledge
• Cultural integrity vs. assimilation

For each concept, include:

• A clear definition in your own words
• One specific example from the article
• Why this concept matters in educational settings

Part 2: Personal Application (20 points)

Respond to the following prompt (400-500 words):

Brayboy discusses how educational systems can serve as sites of both assimilation and resistance. Reflect on your own educational journey (formal or informal) and analyze:

1. A time when you experienced or witnessed how educational spaces tried to change or suppress certain identities, languages, or ways of knowing.
2. How you or others navigated, resisted, or adapted to these pressures
3. What this experience taught you about power, identity, and education

Note: You can draw from any educational experience, traditional school, vocational training, community learning, or self-education.