Writer. Teacher. Advocate.
Should schools prohibit inappropriate hairstyles? I use this poll question in a Freedom of Expression lesson for a diverse body of high school students. Using Nearpod, students respond yes or no and then have an opportunity to post comments on its collaborate board, sort of like post-its. The responses are honest and insightful from a … Continue reading Why are all the Black Girls with Big Hair Sitting in the Back of the Classroom?
It’s hard being black. Especially when your degree of blackness is often quantified by other black people–who consider themselves blacker than you. Frankly, I am not sure how the levels of blackness are measured. Growing up, I was told by other black children in the neighborhood that I sounded white, in other words, spoke as if I […]
I miss Malcolm X. Sure he died before I was born and I only know of his exploits from movies, commentary and the bevy of speeches he left behind. But one thing I know for sure, the African American community needs a Malcolm X today. In the eulogy delivered by Ossie Davis, Malcolm was described … Continue reading Seen But Not Heard
As an educator in the American public school system, I want to see the silver lining, the light at the end of the tunnel, the rise of the best and the brightest. But on the other hand, as a parent, I have the right to rant and rave about the ills of public education and … Continue reading The MisEducation of American Youth