Through narratives, we reclaim an emotion often regarded as negative, and examine how anger serves as a means of social and personal transformation, serving as a way to heal from oppression and exploitation. Using critical race feminist theory as a framework, we use storytelling to share our experiences in the White academy. We argue that rage is a necessary part of achieving critical consciousness. We have learned to use our anger, as a means to survive everyday racism have learned and grown to cope with it, understanding that this rage partially defines us.

Following the works of Patricia Williams, bell hooks, and other feminist scholars of color, we address what it means for women of color teaching social justice issues in predominantly white classrooms. Very little research has been done to illuminate the challenges women of color face in classrooms and what this means for liberatory practice. We grapples with the question, “What are the particular experiences of women of color from various racial and ethnic backgrounds with white student resistance, specifically in relation to issues of authority?” We also provide recommendations for classroom practice as well as address policy recommendations to structurally support women of color.