Sharing as I learn and grow
“Our students don’t have to have their identity minimized and their self-esteem marginalized to have a high-quality education but we must be willing to break up with the public school system to give it to them. We must be willing to prioritize our children’s education by collectively investing time, talents and money and by working together.”
“To describe my feelings as disappointment would be an understatement; what I feel and have felt for a long time is heartbreak. Not because I believed in the educational system but because I believed in the power of individual educators to disrupt the system and create conditions that benefitted Black children.”
“Imagine your Black child learning in an environment that was lovingly and carefully curated for them by you and other like-minded community members. Think of how your child will grow in conditions that were set up for him/her to succeed? “
It’s Sunday morning and I am enjoying my monthly “whoosah weekend.” I rested well (much better than I normally do) and missed the hotel’s complimentary breakfast. This hotel doesn’t offer room service, so I ordered breakfast from a local diner using Door Dash. I am not a frequent Door Dash user but over the last …
“What we need is accurate American History being taught in our schools and in our homes. What we need is the withholding of federal funds to school systems that refuse to teach accurate American History and who weaponize the important work of diversity, equity and inclusion professionals. What we need are protocols and practices that are enforced that keep Black people alive. What we need are stricter gun laws. What we need are leaders who prioritize the safety and well being of Black people over attaining and maintaining a position of power. “
“I implore Black people to stop begging for scraps from social systems that continue to reject us and keep building resources that support and celebrate us. It is futile to expect a system that was intentionally built to oppress us to suddenly change its properties and start propelling us to greatness.”
“Trust should be earned, valued and protected. Just because an educator has a license to deliver content or a degree that allows him or her to be an administrator doesn’t mean that he or she can be trusted to care for my child.”
“We are our student’s first line of defense and there is too much at stake for us to fall for the age-old “waiting game” or to cower because we might be perceived as disruptive. Disruption is not always negative and sadly, some educators will ignore parents’/guardians’ requests until they give up. Never give up.”
“Transactional meetings are not enough. Our students need real relationships with people whom they can trust.”
“It is not enough for Black students to have access to a school building. It is imperative that educators work to understand, embrace and create equitable and inclusive school environments that reflect and represent the experiences of Black students. It is essential to the development and preservation of the souls of Black children that parents, educators and community leaders prioritize helping them thrive in White schools. “