Student 2
“One thing that Dr. Mason did that I have never had another educator do is create a safe space for learning. The content of this class is very intense, and at times very heavy, and especially in the political environment we are living in, everyone had a lot of questions. Dr. Mason created an atmosphere where people wanted to learn, and engaged in discussions that opened their minds up to so many different ways of thinking. Another one of her strengths was that above all else she encouraged learning. There weren't tests and quizzes that asked which author wrote what and other things like that, there were assignments that gave us room to be creative, express what we learned, and learn more through the process of completing the assignments. Dr. Mason encouraged creativity, which in turn promoted our learning.”
-Student, College of William & Mary
Student 3
“Dr. Mason is wonderfully knowledgeable and passionate about liberating her students from racism (a concept that I had relatively little understanding of prior to enrolling in her course). She taught and challenged me so much (not just about civil rights and literature but about racism, how it functions in our modern–day society, and how to begin to overcome it). Overall, I loved Professor Mason's enthusiasm and her willingness to let her students truly create/take the reigns. Really amazing course.”
-Student, College of William & Mary
Student 5
“I will take what I have learned from this course with me into my future life and careers. I have a completely new and enlightened understanding of the world and how racism functions in our daily lives, and it has allowed me to start constructive conversations around me that are utterly necessary in these times.”
-Student, College of William & Mary
Student 6
“Professor Mason is wonderfully knowledgeable and passionate about liberating her students from racism (a concept that I had relatively little understanding of prior to enrolling in her course). She taught and challenged me so much (not just about Civil Rights and literature but about racism, how it functions in our modern–day society, and how to begin to overcome it). I really enjoyed the small–group discussions that we did towards the beginning of the semester because they allowed me to get to know my classmates and feel like I had a strong voice. Overall, I loved Professor Mason's enthusiasm and her willingness to let her students truly create/take the reigns. Really amazing course.”
-Student
Student 7
“Dr. Mason is an EXCELLENT teacher. The love and care she brings to the classroom is unlike any course I've taken in the English department thus–far. The fact that she was able to convey her passion for teaching under these strange conditions is a testament to her ability. I can say with complete certainty that this class has changed the way I view literature, not to mention the world. Dr. Mason was always available to talk outside of class and gave thoughtful feedback to every assignment we submitted, even sharing others' work with the class over email. The way the class was led encouraged engagement and added to the profound sense of responsibility that she views her students as having in the classroom and in the world. I expressed early in the semester that public speaking was difficult for me, and Dr. Mason gave me the opportunity to lead a class, something I would not have ventured to do on my own but an experience that I am so glad to have had. This class confirmed why I am an English major, and gave me a sense of what I want the world to look like.”
-Student