Inclusion and Anti-Racism

Anti-Racism in the Writing Center: Why It Matters

Our Position 

The commonly held view that there is one correct way to speak and write, and that spoken and written deviations from "standard English” indicate less intelligence, has no basis in the body of Linguistics research. Therefore, the UW Tacoma Writing Center works from two truths that are crucial to helping writers succeed in a society with a history of systemic racism[1] and language bias. 

1) Languages are living systems that are always changing with the people who speak and write them.[2]

• Linguistic and writing research has demonstrated that there is no inherent standard of English (or any other language).
• Many differences in spoken and written language, including styles, accents, and dialects, are complex and rooted in culture and identity.
• Our feelings about what makes language acceptable, correct, or incorrect are attitudes we have learned from family, teachers, media, and society. 

2) Racism can subtly influence our attitudes and judgements about language, both spoken and written.[3]  

• Academic institutions, writing centers included, have traditionally upheld racist structures.[4]
• These language biases, based on judgements rooted in race, culture, and class, have deep emotional, psychological, and educational impacts on students.[5]
• While racism is not always intentional, its ramifications are far-reaching and detrimental. 

Therefore, the UW Tacoma Writing Center operates on the principle that students should not have to change the way they speak to be listened to. Deep thinking happens in all forms of English,[6] whether the speaker is from Appalachia or the inner city, and we encourage our students to communicate their values and ideas in language that feels comfortable to them as they learn.

The tutors in the UW Tacoma Writing Center dedicate themselves to helping students become more critical of academic language expectations as they affect students’ writing and assessments of it. Our aim is to cultivate a collaborative and inclusive learning environment where we all learn to analyze, critique, and communicate in academic and professional contexts. We affirm that an awareness of structural racism and language bias helps writers to develop and succeed on their own terms.  

Our Practices

Tutors and staff commit to speak up against racism and language bias in the UWT Writing Center and the campus community. Because our center is a learning environment, we will strive to enter into healthy discourse with people who are willing to grow. However, because research shows that racism causes deep and lasting damage,[7] we will not allow hurtful speech with ill intent to be shared in our space without opposition. Our belief is that learning and resistance to stubborn biases can and must co-exist.

We promise to be reflective and critical of our practices and address the ways that we perpetuate racism or social injustice. For instance, we promise to actively engage in the following anti-racist practices:

• Be aware of our language practices (what we say or allow to be said)
• Challenge microaggressions that make people feel uncomfortable or inferior
• Openly discuss racism and social justice issues as they arise in writing sessions
• Emphasize the needs of the writer to meet assignment expectations over the demands of grammatical “correctness” only, a practice with broad consensus in writing centers[8]
• Help writers understand grammar as a system of meaning, rather than a list of rules
• Support writers’ agency to choose non-conventional word choices, idioms, and colloquialisms in academic writing
• Advocate for a safe, welcoming, productive, and proactive Writing Center
• Conduct on-going assessments of the work of the Writing Center, looking specifically for patterns of inequality or oppressive practices that may be occurring, and encourage personal reflection 

We also acknowledge that racism is connected to other forms of social injustice, included but not limited to classism, sexism, ableism, ageism, and heteronormative assumptions. We promise to address these issues within the Writing Center in a continuing conversation. 

But do you teach students about grammar and punctuation? 

Of course! We will always teach students about language, including grammar and punctuation, when the situation calls for it. However, grammar and punctuation are just one facet of writing––and usually not the focus of post-secondary writing instruction.[9] 

Alignment with University of Washington Priorities & Further Resources

This UW Tacoma Writing Center Anti-Racism Statement aligns with the UW Tacoma Strategic Plan and the UW Diversity Blueprint. See also the University of Washington Civil Rights Compliance Office.  Additionally, these links offer perspective on writing instruction at the University of Washington.

• UW’s Principles of Writing

• The Odegaard Writing & Research Center on the Seattle campus