Ratchetdemic: Reimagining Academic Success
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- Create Date：2022-09-08 06:20:10
- Update Date：2025-09-06
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- Author：Christopher Emdin
- ISBN：0807007145
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Summary
A revolutionary new educational model that encourages educators to provide spaces for students to display their academic brilliance without sacrificing their identities
Building on the ideas introduced in his New York Times best-selling book， For White Folks Who Teach in the Hood， Christopher Emdin introduces an alternative educational model that will help students （and teachers） celebrate ratchet identity in the classroom。 Ratchetdemic advocates for a new kind of student identity--one that bridges the seemingly disparate worlds of the ivory tower and the urban classroom。
Because modern schooling often centers whiteness， Emdin argues， it dismisses ratchet identity （the embodying of "negative" characteristics associated with lowbrow culture， often thought to be possessed by people of a particular ethnic， racial， or socioeconomic status） as anti-intellectual and punishes young people for straying from these alleged "academic norms，" leaving young people in classrooms frustrated and uninspired。 These deviations， Emdin explains， include so-called "disruptive behavior" and a celebration of hip-hop music and culture。
Emdin argues that being "ratchetdemic，" or both ratchet and academic （like having rap battles about science， for example）， can empower students to embrace themselves， their backgrounds， and their education as parts of a whole， not disparate identities。 This means celebrating protest， disrupting the status quo， and reclaiming the genius of youth in the classroom。
Building on the ideas introduced in his New York Times best-selling book， For White Folks Who Teach in the Hood， Christopher Emdin introduces an alternative educational model that will help students （and teachers） celebrate ratchet identity in the classroom。 Ratchetdemic advocates for a new kind of student identity--one that bridges the seemingly disparate worlds of the ivory tower and the urban classroom。
Because modern schooling often centers whiteness， Emdin argues， it dismisses ratchet identity （the embodying of "negative" characteristics associated with lowbrow culture， often thought to be possessed by people of a particular ethnic， racial， or socioeconomic status） as anti-intellectual and punishes young people for straying from these alleged "academic norms，" leaving young people in classrooms frustrated and uninspired。 These deviations， Emdin explains， include so-called "disruptive behavior" and a celebration of hip-hop music and culture。
Emdin argues that being "ratchetdemic，" or both ratchet and academic （like having rap battles about science， for example）， can empower students to embrace themselves， their backgrounds， and their education as parts of a whole， not disparate identities。 This means celebrating protest， disrupting the status quo， and reclaiming the genius of youth in the classroom。
Reviews
Jillene Partrick
，
Creates questions and thinking。
Christopher Barry
，
5 stars for the ideas - but the writing could have occasionally been more direct。 On a personal level， this book is an "echo chamber" book that articulates ideas that I am 100% on board with， so much so that I was hoping for some new perspectives or language to shape my thinking。 It reinforced my thinking。 I teach in a school that is more than 90% white。 However， the ideas and issues that Emdin raises align with the struggles of the large groups of our students who are not perceived as having wh 5 stars for the ideas - but the writing could have occasionally been more direct。 On a personal level， this book is an "echo chamber" book that articulates ideas that I am 100% on board with， so much so that I was hoping for some new perspectives or language to shape my thinking。 It reinforced my thinking。 I teach in a school that is more than 90% white。 However， the ideas and issues that Emdin raises align with the struggles of the large groups of our students who are not perceived as having what I'll call "middle-class aspirations。" They are being harmed by a school system that erases who they are and marginalizes anyone expresses a lack of interest in academics。 Ratchetdemic is essentially "meeting students where they are" but for real。 It is acknowledging that the idea of what is and is not "academic" is causing harm by devaluing the very real genius that people have but don't express or show in traditional "academic" ways。 It is acknowledging that much of what people do in their lives is rigorous and academic， but schools are not setup for differing ways of expressing "rigor。" I think this idea is even more important as we move out of Covid。 Covid exposed the 'busywork' nature of so much of school and many students express their frustration with that in ways that Emdin would certainly call "ratchet。" 。。。more
Phi Unit
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As always Chris Emdin’s writing is a must read for educators who work with Black and neo-indigenous youth。 Good reminder that the issues with our current education systems is not just structural but cultural。 Not being able to relate to young people is a big part of that issue。 Embrace the ratchet！
Maribel
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“ The genius of teaching is reserved for those who don’t hide behind the title or credential and instead take on the actions required to authentically connect with students and their communities。”
K。
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I won a free copy from the Goodreads First Reads Giveaway Program and think that it interesting。 I would recommend it to everyone。
Skylar Primm
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“[I]f we do not do the work， the system remains as it is。” （230）I can’t say enough good things about this book。 Each chapter is full of treasure， and I’m excited that a book club I’m part of might be reading it next year， because Dr。 Emdin’s words certainly bear re-reading。 For the moment， though， I’m just going to ruminate on the quote above， from the final chapter。Highly， highly recommended。
Frank
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i’m not rating this but this was not good for so many reasons， but i don’t think i was the target audience for this book 😬
Nani
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Really inspiring stuff - and explicit in centering race in a broader conversation about educational imperialism。 Repetitive in places and sometimes overwrought in use of extended metaphor。
Shari
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Totally mind blowing and inspirational grounded work on why reimagining school and classroom settings is a MUST。 REMARKABLE。
Sarah
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Emotionally powerful， but I would have appreciated more concrete， practical advice and direction
Patricia Kaniasty
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Not impressed。 Did not get it。
Bradford Philen
，
If you intend to read 50， 25， 12， or 3 books in 2022， make sure this is one of them。 This book is brilliant。 The stories within are complex， heartfelt， inspiring， and motivating。 Dr。 Emdin has taken great care here in how he observes， studies， understands， and empathizes with young people。 E is a phenomenal person and this is a phenomenal book。 Highly recommend！
Matt
，
Emdin makes some great arguments， but they get recast and rehashed in a lot of redundant text。 This book could have been 75 pages shorter， I'm sure。 Emdin makes some great arguments， but they get recast and rehashed in a lot of redundant text。 This book could have been 75 pages shorter， I'm sure。 。。。more
Ryan Collins
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I agree with Emdin’s larger point: school should be a space for both teachers and students to facilitate （and be a part of） dynamic and engaging learning without having to repress who they are。 My problem is that while Emdin encourages students/teachers to be true to their “ratched” selves， he also suggests that quiet/reserved AfricanAmerican students have simply internalized an oppressive white pedagogy， but some people are inherently more introverted， not necessarily because of internalized op I agree with Emdin’s larger point: school should be a space for both teachers and students to facilitate （and be a part of） dynamic and engaging learning without having to repress who they are。 My problem is that while Emdin encourages students/teachers to be true to their “ratched” selves， he also suggests that quiet/reserved AfricanAmerican students have simply internalized an oppressive white pedagogy， but some people are inherently more introverted， not necessarily because of internalized oppression， but because of a combination of familial upbringing and biology。 What’s more， this book is mainly a series of analogies and metaphors。 There is little research， and there isn’t much development of his central argument。 He essentially recapitulates the same claim using different analogies/ historical anecdotes。 。。。more
Happy
，
Let me start by saying that this book is easy to read。 Christopher Emdin is a talented writer and even chapters that I found less interesting were still written so well that it was easy to read through them。 That being said， I was a bit disappointed with this book because， although I agree with almost everything Emdin writes， he offers very little in terms of actionable ideas for teachers， students， parents， or administrators。 His takeaway boils down to "find your ratchet" and "stop thinking and Let me start by saying that this book is easy to read。 Christopher Emdin is a talented writer and even chapters that I found less interesting were still written so well that it was easy to read through them。 That being said， I was a bit disappointed with this book because， although I agree with almost everything Emdin writes， he offers very little in terms of actionable ideas for teachers， students， parents， or administrators。 His takeaway boils down to "find your ratchet" and "stop thinking and just do it。" I certainly believe this is important advice， but how does one actually do these things？ More importantly， what does one do after they have found their ratchet？I will say that I also found some of the analogies in this book to drag on too long。 Emdin makes some very thoughtful connections with real-life anecdotes that help to make his points crystal clear。 However， he'll spend an entire chapter on a single analogy which ends up feeling stretched much beyond its use。 I sometimes didn't feel trusted as a reader as Emdin felt it was necessary to stretch every analogy further and further to make sure I understood。I would recommend this book if you are an educator looking for validation of your unorthodox methods， or if you're an educator unsure whether you should continue teaching using a traditional teaching approach。 I also think this is a great book for discussion groups， especially at schools。 I would not recommend if you are looking for actionable ideas that you can implement。 。。。more
Andrea
，
I am thankful for the review that recommended reading Emdin's other book， For White Folks Who Teach in the Hood 。。。 And the Rest of Ya'll， Too， before this one because that earlier text definitely lays the groundwork for what Emdin discusses and argues in Ratchetdemic。 Working in higher education administration， I felt this book has more I can embrace and use as I advise my students， but the main audience is definitely still k-12 educators。 Especially as we enter year three of the pandemic and a I am thankful for the review that recommended reading Emdin's other book， For White Folks Who Teach in the Hood 。。。 And the Rest of Ya'll， Too， before this one because that earlier text definitely lays the groundwork for what Emdin discusses and argues in Ratchetdemic。 Working in higher education administration， I felt this book has more I can embrace and use as I advise my students， but the main audience is definitely still k-12 educators。 Especially as we enter year three of the pandemic and are finally realizing all the broken aspects of our systemic institutions across the board， I highly recommend reading Emdin's books in preparation for changing these systems。 。。。more
Terry Jess
，
This is a powerful book and Dr。 Emdin brings it fully in his second outing。 I wish I could gift this book to every black educator and student I know because I think it feels like a big hug for those doing the work。 Every educator however should read this because it will be equally affirming and challenging as we strive for our authentic selves so that we are prepared to transform spaces for students to be their authentic， genius selves！
Mia
，
First of all， it was so great to hear the author， Chris Emdin， read the book。 His delivery was passionate and poetic！ He is an amazing story teller！ This book is a call to action for all educators！ Whether you are a teacher or administrator， in K-12 or higher ed， this book is for you。 It forced me to reflect on my own experiences as a student， parent， and educator， and moved me to proudly embrace my authentic “ratchet” and academic self。
Jeff
，
Ratchetdimic is a well articulated damnation of how our school systems fail Black and Brown students through oppressive pedagogies and discipline policies that deny these students their full identities。 Emdin further argues that the solution to the harm created by the racism embedded in institutional education systems is to embrace our full selves and our students full selves。 That is saying that the emotional and intellectual fullness of students; as well as us， their allies in education; need Ratchetdimic is a well articulated damnation of how our school systems fail Black and Brown students through oppressive pedagogies and discipline policies that deny these students their full identities。 Emdin further argues that the solution to the harm created by the racism embedded in institutional education systems is to embrace our full selves and our students full selves。 That is saying that the emotional and intellectual fullness of students; as well as us， their allies in education; need to be uninhibited by arbitrary rules and systems that we use to maintain the status quo。 In his words， we all need to be ratchet， or full unapologetically ourselves even when， especially when， that goes against the established rules and norms。I find this work compelling and affirming in many ways。 The concept with which I am grappling most though is a line near the end of the text where he suggests that students should be able to be their full “ratchet” selves except when in inhibits the rights of others。 In this there is an acknowledgement that there do need to be norms and expectations that are upheld， and that we in community need to negotiate those norms。 Emdin’s text rightly acknowledges that the power is most often if not always in the hands of teachers and administrators that come up with norms and rules that suppress student freedom。 What I would love to see is an articulation of how norms and expectations can be co-created in schools that give student voice and meaningful power， but also find a balance in hearing the needs and concerns of teachers and administrators。 Emdin’s previous book does this to some degree with the use of co-gens。 But it feels particularly in the diverse-by-design schools are children need， we need to continue to build a roadmap for how schools can be co-created with our students and the community。 This book articulates why we need that， but really how to do it。 。。。more
Patti
，
I read Ratchetdemic after hearing Dr。 Emdin speak at a Northshire Bookstore event。 He is nothing short of amazing， and his book offers insights all educators need to hear。 He has the gift of conveying the truth kindly， yet clearly。 I like the idea of tearing down oppressive educational structures from within。 I want to learn more about Ratchetdemic success stories and Emdin's vision for how online education fits into the equation。 I read Ratchetdemic after hearing Dr。 Emdin speak at a Northshire Bookstore event。 He is nothing short of amazing， and his book offers insights all educators need to hear。 He has the gift of conveying the truth kindly， yet clearly。 I like the idea of tearing down oppressive educational structures from within。 I want to learn more about Ratchetdemic success stories and Emdin's vision for how online education fits into the equation。 。。。more
Bryce
，
Required reading， no doubt。 My favorite book on education。 Chris please teach the globe。
Liz Norell
，
Emdin primarily writes for K12 educators， but his diagnoses ar every bit as relevant for higher ed。 If you work with college students， YOU NEED TO READ THIS BOOK。 Period。
Alexa Doran
，
Inspirational and motivating。 My only issue was there was a LOT of unnecessary labeling。 Still I recommend
John Whaley
，
I highly suggest the audiobook version accompanying a fiercely and fervently annotated hard copy of this tome to liberatory and reality pedagogy。 Literally listening to Dr。 Emdin speak his truth—THE truth—about finding， using， amplifying， and celebrating the truest， core identities in ourselves and our students is a clarion call to arms for the brothers， sisters， and family of the ratchetdemic army。 This text is for the warrior caste—the ones who are researched， ready， wily， willing， avid， and a I highly suggest the audiobook version accompanying a fiercely and fervently annotated hard copy of this tome to liberatory and reality pedagogy。 Literally listening to Dr。 Emdin speak his truth—THE truth—about finding， using， amplifying， and celebrating the truest， core identities in ourselves and our students is a clarion call to arms for the brothers， sisters， and family of the ratchetdemic army。 This text is for the warrior caste—the ones who are researched， ready， wily， willing， avid， and able。 If you’re just dipping your toes into #realitypedagogy， start with Dr。 Emdin’s previous text， “For White Folx Who Teach in the Hood”—more of a “how to” primer on the what and how of racthetdemia—and lay the ground work。 After you have the theory and practical considerations under your belt， this is when it’s time to get amped for “Ratchetdemic” to rouse you into the revolutionary act of TRUE teaching and learning。 This text， especially when listening to Dr。 Emdin’s actual voice while reading， is like a pump up jam on steroids for over 200 pages。 Long story short: this is absolute， revolutionary fire， and if you’re ready to dismantle the white supremacist culture of American public schooling， only to rebuild a system of emancipatory educational institutions， and you’ve been lusting for some passion to keep your inner flame from being stifled by the shushing of the pearl clutching status quo clenchers， “Ratchetdemic” is your next read。 。。。more
Madelynp
，
Dr。 Emdin makes some critical arguments in this book that call upon teachers to recognize the brilliance of our students， no matter how their genius is expressed。 These arguments are made repeatedly through the book， and he provides some excellent examples of students benefitting from methods that recognize and incorporate the trauma and pain inflicted on the Black community in the US。 This is a good resource for teachers （especially teachers with white privilege） working in diverse communities， Dr。 Emdin makes some critical arguments in this book that call upon teachers to recognize the brilliance of our students， no matter how their genius is expressed。 These arguments are made repeatedly through the book， and he provides some excellent examples of students benefitting from methods that recognize and incorporate the trauma and pain inflicted on the Black community in the US。 This is a good resource for teachers （especially teachers with white privilege） working in diverse communities， but will undoubtedly inspire pushback from some folks。 I am still sitting with the discomfort inspired by the book （in large part by the title， which inspired one of my students to say "Eww， miss"）， but I appreciate the reflections this book has inspired。 。。。more
Darren Beck
，
So good， I’m rereading it as I go。 Even in mostly lily-white Utah where I am， this is powerful and very necessary。
Melissa Agudelo
，
If your teach， read this。
C。C。
，
Every Educator Should Read ThisAs a college professor， this book shook my soul and strained my neck as I nodded throughout。 It confirmed that how I teach is the right way and that I still have much to do。 Thank you for writing this book。
Timothy Holmes
，
This was a phenomenal book。 Necessary reading for anyone who is working with kids from the hood。 Though this book was written for teachers， the parallels for leaders， ministers， and anyone else doing social work with people from underserved and neglected neighborhoods。 Chris’ work is genius here， and the way he uses stories， illustrations， and pedagogy to draw his points are incredible。 This book is added to the list of books that I will keep drawing from as i engage in ministry。
Samantha Junkin
，