published works
Black Women Do: Leaders of the African Diaspora
Published via Amazon by Keziah Ridgeway (August 11, 2022) A rhyming picture book designed to introduce young readers to 13 phenomenal women from across the globe. It’s the perfect starting point to teach children early about the invaluable achievements and leadership of Black women throughout history.
"Should Pa. Schools Adopt Critical Race Theory Curriculum?"
Published in Pro/Con The Philadelphia Inquirer (June 11, 2021) In this published debate against a Rutgers University professor, Keziah Ridgeway argues the "Pro" side for adopting Critical Race Theory (CRT) in Pennsylvania schools. She defines CRT not as a boogeyman, but as a necessary framework to "shed light on the intersections of law, race/racism, and gender inequality within power structures in our country," arguing that a truthful, comprehensive education must acknowledge how historical institutions were built.
"Before We Can Have Anti-Racist Classrooms, Teacher Preparation Needs an Overhaul"
Published in Education Week (September 23, 2020) In this opinion piece, Ridgeway draws on her own experiences as a Black Muslim student in Philadelphia and her career as a history teacher. She argues that teacher-preparation programs need to be fundamentally restructured to abandon racially biased models and better equip educators to teach anti-racist curricula.
"How teachers can confront white supremacy in our classrooms, our schools, and ourselves"
Co-authored with Charlie McGeehan Published by WHYY / NewsWorks (August 25, 2017) This essay, written in the wake of the Charlottesville rally, calls on educators to actively dismantle the status quo of white supremacy in education. It covers the necessity of talking about race in the classroom, teaching a complex and anti-oppressive curriculum, the criminalization of Black students, and the need for white educators to confront their own implicit biases.
"Gaga, It Need Not Be a Bad Romance with Muslims"
Published by Common Ground News Service (September 3, 2013) Written in response to Lady Gaga's song "Aura" (initially leaked as "Burqa") and her use of the garment as a fashion statement, this article unpacks the dangers of cultural appropriation and the sexualization of religious garments. It challenges the Orientalist stereotypes perpetuated by the media, while offering a thoughtful critique on how the pop star could use her massive platform to become a genuine ally to Muslim women instead.
Featured in published books
How We Stay Free: Notes on a Black Uprising
(Common Notions Press, 2022)
Edited by Christopher R. Rogers, Fajr Muhammad, and the Paul Robeson House & Museum, this anthology-in-action chronicles the 2020 uprisings in Philadelphia. Keziah is featured in a section written by the Philly Black Students Alliance (PBSA), highlighting her as an adult mentor who was deeply responsible for their political awakening and organizing efforts.
Black History in the Philadelphia Landscape: Deep Roots, Continuing Legacy
By Amy Jane Cohen (Temple University Press, 2024)
Chronicling the physical markers of the Black experience across the city, this book features a photograph of Keziah at the unveiling ceremony for the 1967 Student Walkout Marker, where she was specifically invited by event planners to speak on the historical legacy of student activism.