‘America to Me’ Director Steve James on Having a Real Conversation About Race in Schools

Two summers ago, I wrote an essay called “The challenges of being a black Principal in today’s racial and political climate.” It was a reflection…

School Segregation Is No Accident and This Writer Says It’s Because of Our Racist Housing Policies

America’s public schools today are more segregated than at any time in the last half century and government housing policies are largely to blame, says…

The Racial Achievement Gap Can’t Be Fixed With a #BlackLivesMatter Sign in Your Yard

“How can I be sexist? I have a mother, a wife and daughters!” If you’re a woman reading that sentence, you almost certainly won’t have…

This Is What Being a Non-Racist White Person Really Looks Like

First, let’s get something straight: The current bar for being a “good, non-racist White person” is set way too low. Here’s what it looks like…

How I Got 350 People to See “Hidden Figures” For Free in 4 Days

Like so many Black women, I was excited about the movie “Hidden Figures.” My enthusiasm skyrocketed when I got a letter from Trinity United Church…

Our Schools Need Social Justice Warriors, Not Status-Quo Embracers

As we dive head first into this school year, I urge teachers, parents and leaders to think deeply about the mission of schooling and the…

I Just Couldn’t Trust a Diverse Suburb With My Black Daughter’s Education

People loosely use the term “good schools and diversity” without looking into it or researching what that means. When you get below the surface, it…

Mired in Averageness: What Will It Take, Suburban Schools?

Parents pay dearly for the privilege of living within the boundaries of Chicago suburban schools such as Barrington High and Naperville Central. Both are ranked…

Support the Student Who Decides ‘College Isn’t For Me’

Cierra Ford came to dread the inevitable question asked of all high school seniors this time of year: “Where are you going to college?” It…

My College Top Five

All the things that we spent so much time stressing about since ninth grade don’t seem so important right now. The all-consuming ACT and SAT…