Black Girls Need Police-Free Schools

We are at a precipice. Advocates and school leaders in nearly 100 districts all over the country have called for the removal of police in…

Q&A: 12-Year-Old Amir Lumumba on Why Schools Need More Counselors and Fewer Cops

On Thursday, July 9 from 12:00-2:00 p.m. ET, brightbeam’s Director of Activism, Zakiya Sankara-Jabar will moderate a virtual town hall called #ReimagingingSchoolSafety. Special guests include:…

Gianna Was Right, Her Daddy Changed the World

Four weeks ago, a Black man was lynched. In 2020. I remind myself of that fact each day so that I do not forget what…

I’ll Believe Y’all Are Serious About Black Lives Mattering When You Send More of Our Kids to College Instead of Prison

I’m hearing a lot of people now all “rah-rah” for Black lives mattering. Meanwhile, I’m over here rolling my eyes at it all because to…

Let’s Stand Up for Justice and Take Police Officers Out of Our Schools

If I had a teacher like you, I don’t think I would be here. Why do you say that? Because you care. I will never…

It Was the Worst Moment of My Teaching Career, And I Was the Problem

One of the best teachers I have ever known has a tattoo on the inside of her wrist of the snake from “The Little Prince.”…

When Cops Outweigh Counselors, Schools Set Students Up to Fail

Black Lives Matter. This statement has sparked inspiration, fear and anger across this nation, but this has always been the message that Black people in…

There Wasn’t Just One Reason That Led to Parkland

“You can’t handle the truth.” I’m beginning to think there was great wisdom in these five words uttered by Colonel Jessup, the character played by…

Let’s Stop With the Handcuffs and Train Teachers to Deal With Special Needs

I couldn’t watch the video of the Florida child being handcuffed in the principal’s office. As a writer and a policy wonk, I am not supposed…

Stop Pushing Girls Out of the Classroom and Just ‘Let Her Learn’

Every day girls are being pushed out of the classroom. Some of them are unseen. Many of them are unheard. And too often they are…