The Four Pivots:  Reimagining Justice, Reimagining Ourselves

By Shawn A. Ginwright (Penguin Random House, 2022)

 For many of us, the world feels more divided than ever, particularly around issues of social justice. We have tried almost everything — book studies, changing standards, affinity groups, and so on. This divide can feel insurmountable. Enter Shawn A. Ginwright’s book, The Four Pivots: Reimagining Justice, Reimagining Ourselves.

In his book, Ginwright offers us a new perspective — and hope — advancing the idea that because of the deep harm caused by inequality, healing must be an integral part of our collective and individual journeys. He further offers four “pivots,” or small changes in our orientation, that we can take to engage in the deep, reflective, and internal work of healing:

1. Awareness: From lens to mirror.
2. Connection: From transactional to transformative relationship-building.
3. Vision: From viewing problems to viewing possibilities.
4. Presence: From hustle to flow.

Through storytelling, reflective prompts, and research, The Four Pivots shows us how to engage in healing work that can lead to fundamental shifts in our values and ways of thinking, connecting, acting, and ultimately, working together toward meaningful change.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Gloria McDaniel-Hall

Gloria McDaniel-Hall is an associate professor of educational leadership at National Louis University, Chicago, IL.

Nina F. Weisling

Nina F. Weisling is a chair and assistant professor of education at Carthage College, Kenosha, WI. She is a co-author of Responsive Mentoring: Supporting the Teachers All Students Deserve (Rowman & Littlefield, 2020).