Gwen Samuel

Black Leaders, We Need You to Break Your Silence of Complicity and Protect the Educational Choice of Black Parents for Their Children
This is the moment in time when Black leaders must decide how committed they are—or are not—to the education of Black and Brown children. This…

Black Communities Everywhere Should Be Stepping Up Like This for Our Kids and Schools
Outrage: “Whites Only” Seats The Connecticut Supreme Court made a ruling in Sheff v. O’Neill that was supposed to integrate schools. Instead, it capped the…

Kanye Is Wrong About a Lot of Things But He Might Be Right About This
Outrage: The Constitution Doesn’t Care About Black People I think Kanye is suffering from that middle child syndrome where he feels like he’s not getting…

Hope and Outrage: Put Some ‘Respek’ on ALL of Dr. King’s Dreams
Outrage: Martin Had a Dream Today, we commemorate the 50th anniversary of Dr. King’s assassination by memorializing his work and his life. But is this…

Education Reform in 2018 Is Going to Need a Parent Seal of Approval
A few years ago, at a convening of education advocates, one veteran in the reform movement highlighted the lack of racial diversity in the room…

She Goes Into Battle Every Day to Fight for Better, Safer Schools in Connecticut
There is a warrior for children in Connecticut who battles day after day, year after year, on their behalf. She fights for better schools. She…

Rev. Al Sharpton, Let’s Talk About Your ‘Sister’ Randi
“Any situation in which some men prevent others from engaging in the process of inquiry is one of violence…to alienate humans from their own decision…

This Is Why the Oppressed Can’t Get No Sleep
While many were celebrating the Fourth of July with hamburgers, hotdogs, fireworks and good ole fashioned apple pie, I was rereading Frederick Douglass’ speech of July…

Black Parents Don’t Have Time for a Charter vs. Traditional Schools Debate
Black parents have enough to worry about just by virtue of having a Black child. We worry about our Black babies’ safety every day when…
Arresting Parents Misses the Point
Gwen Samuel, parent activist and founder of the Connecticut Parents Union, asks why so many Connecticut parents feel the need to escape the schools in their own zip code and calls out the unlawful arrest of one Mom for doing just that. Samuel also highlights the painful truth that parents are put in an almost impossible situation when the law requires them to send their children to school, even when their assigned school is of low quality…