Imagine seeing white people, the perceived dominant race, loving and appreciating black culture when it is pretty-enjoying the music, food, culture and beauty of our people-but remaining silent about our oppression and refusing to see how the beauty of our culture was largely born out of necessity. Moreover, the silence on the part of white teachers who teach black and brown children is insulting. Our lack of instruction becomes deadly when we allow fear and discomfort to indirectly allow white students to labor under false, privileged assumptions. They should also understand that Alton Sterling, Philando Castile and Trayvon Martin were preceded in death by Emmett Till, Jimmie Lee Jackson and countless others whose stories and deaths we must also teach. These students need to learn about the destructive power of racism and brutality that have plagued our country for centuries. White teachers must also broach these topics with white children attending white schools. These are all symptoms of a type of racism that remains deadly to this day because, despite bodies lying in the street, we refuse to talk about it. If that’s the case, imagine how much more difficult it is for them to engage in dialogue about mass incarceration rates the militarism of police the killing of innocent black men and women cycles of poverty the destruction of our bodies, minds and souls the lack of access to healthy food and quality schools and gentrification. Even with me, students of color are afraid to say the word white or to name the blatant racism of slavery and Jim Crow. When their teachers choose to remain silent about moments of racial tension or violence-violence that may well touch students’ own communities or families-these children are overtly reminded of their inferior place in society.Įven as a black teacher, I have to set a tone for my students that signals that it’s safe to talk about race. Many black and brown students are educated in school systems and classrooms where they, despite making up the racial majority, are taught how to understand a world by a staff comprised of a powerful minority. We have chosen a profession, which-like parenting-requires that our comforts come second to those of children. We may be uncomfortable talking about race, but we can no longer afford to be silent. They particularly pay attention to our silence. Students pay attention to everything we say and do. As educators we (sometimes unknowingly) step into roles of advocate, caretaker, guide, and even mother or father to students.
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