This weekend I had the opportunity to attend the first national gathering of Black Male Educators Convenings (BMEC) in Philadelphia. I was both inspired and challenged. In sacred spaces like the convening, where Black men are often coming from schools and places that are predominately female and White, I try to think carefully about my presence, both in simply being…
Many studies note that there is an over identification of Black boys to special education. While serving as the Teach For America Vice President with Teacher Leadership Development in Greater Philadelphia, I had the opportunity to spend time in classes in Trenton, Camden, and Philadelphia. In this role, I saw 3rd grade special education classes that were 100% Black males…
Imagine that a teacher comes to a workshop and says he is struggling to get his students to learn calculus. He describes them as resistant, unmotivated, and chatty. But wait a minute. An hour later, he tells the room that his students should be grateful to have him, that he drives 45 minutes each way, and that he is highly…
The article below is based on interviews with several Black male educators who work in urban school settings on the east coast. In an effort to honor the perspectives of those participating in the interviews, several of them created the title for this article. I often think one of the best questions to ask ourselves is, “What am I learning…
Various experiences have given me reason to think more about what it means to be culturally responsive, not just as an educator but also as a human being. The first time I thought deeply about race was probably in high school. I was one of 4 African American students in an honors class, combined English and history. Each seat was…