White Women Like Me Dominate the Teaching Profession. Here’s Why That’s a Problem

I can name the Black educators I had growing up on one hand.  One. Hand.  And if I add the ones I had in college…

15 Questions That Predominantly White Schools Should Ask When Engaging in Non-Performative Anti-Racist Work

Last week, I had a consulting call with a potential client (a white teacher), who teaches in a predominantly white school/neighborhood and wants to engage…

This Is Our Window of Opportunity to Create a Diverse Teacher Workforce

Racial segregation remains a major issue for American students more than 65 years after the landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling on Brown v. Board of…

Here’s How ‘Nice Racism’ Shows Up in Our Schools

The other day, I stumbled upon an online MSNBC interview with Dr. Robin DiAngelo about the release of her new book, “Nice Racism: How Progressive…

We Owe It to Our Students to Do Some Racial Justice Homework This Summer

This has been the longest year of my teaching career. Not literally, of course. Like many of you, I’ve worked about 200 days since last…

Here’s How Student Curiosity Can Advance Racial Justice…If Teachers Just Let It Happen

Curiosity is oftentimes the beginning of learning. When we’re curious, we begin to ask questions. Our questions prompt us to investigate, and our investigations lead…

We Never Learned About Black Wall Street. So, What Else Is Missing From Our Curriculum?

Did you ever learn about Black Wall Street and the Tulsa, Oklahoma Massacre? I know I did not. It was not until I was an…

No, You Should Not Be Teaching Black Children if You Reject Anti-Racism

There would be no lynching if it did not start in the schoolroom. Dr. Carter G. Woodson The news has been full of parents, school…

It’s Time to Add Multicultural Literature to the Academic Equation

The teaching population in the United States is 87% white female, the typical educator a blonde or brunette under the age of 35. Dominating the…

My Students Deserve to Share Their Stories On Their Own Terms

I found “The Bluest Eye” on my own in my older sister’s classroom books. I was in ninth grade. I can’t remember what I thought…