London, race and territories: Young people’s stories of a divided city

Abstract

This article examines the relationships between children’s everyday lives and geographical education. Drawing on research with five young people in London, the article examines their narratives, analysed as relating to race and territory, critically considering the relationships between children’s geographies and the geographies of race and racism in schools. Following hooks, the article begins with the argument that there is value in ‘teaching to transgress’ to challenge both legacies of imperialism in geography and education, and the inequalities and injustices that many children face. Following this, the article introduces the research, drawing on Aitken to argue the importance of consideration of children’s voice, presence and rights in (geographical) education, before sharing the narratives of the young people. The article concludes by arguing for a reconceptualization of how ‘the child’ is constructed, and valued, in education.