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?
Category: Education
Black by Default
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 […]
Seen But Not Heard
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
The MisEducation of American Youth
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