Does anti-racist education need to rely so heavily on feelings of anxiety, anger, or guilt? Can comedy, and more specifically, African American “race comics,” help us rethink our approach to anti-racist education?
At a time when critical race theory is under attack, the need for new approaches to anti-racist education is urgent. Unthinkable Laughter addresses this need, highlighting the power of humour and race comedy as valuable alternative strategies. Drawing on her experiences in politics – as a former member of Provincial Parliament in Ontario, anti-racism critic for the province, and chair of Ontario’s first-ever Black Caucus – Laura Mae Lindo offers a fresh perspective on rethinking anti-racism work in educational settings.
The book applies critical race theory and culturally relevant pedagogies to Canadian experiences in education and politics, addressing a significant representational gap that often fosters the misleading belief that racism in education is a problem unique to the United States. By introducing this theoretical framework to Canadian contexts, Lindo offers a more inclusive, global perspective on both critical race theory and culturally relevant pedagogies in education. Ultimately, Unthinkable Laughter calls for a shift in how we approach anti-racist education, urging the exploration of humour and race comedy as powerful and effective alternative strategies.

Laura Mae Lindo is an assistant professor in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Waterloo.

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