Stop Straddling The Fence

The novelist, poet, and activist, James Baldwin, made many profound statements and one that has always resonated is: “We can disagree and still love each other unless your disagreement is rooted in my oppression and denial of my humanity and right to exist.”

It was the 2016-17 school year, and we were reading To Kill a Mockingbird. Before we began for the day, I taped our discussion contract to the board. The class had finished reading the section pertaining to Tom Robinson’s court case (a Black man who was accused of raping a poor, white girl) and the topic for the day was racism in America. The conversation went smoothly, there were differing opinions, but it was respectful until I heard, “I’m tired of Black Lives Matter…” The nonchalant, cold deference caused my brown face to flush with anger. I listened to her feelings and realized that no matter how I responded, my words would not be heard nor felt. As I carefully gave a response, my voice trembled with hurt and anger, my eyes watered, my fingers were tingling, and my hands shook. I had to suppress everything I wanted to say and had to be a “professional” educator first and a black woman second.

We would like to think that the education system is the one place not touched by white rage and white supremacy. We want to believe that our schools can fix the sins of our nation. We want to believe that educators are understanding, loving, supporters of all children, but you may fail to realize that some of your children’s teachers are not who you think. The teachers who lower their standards because “my kids can’t do that” while insisting they are advocating for their students’ needs; the teachers who smile at their black and brown students while posting racially cryptic messages on social media, and once called out say, “I’m sorry” and “I’m devastated” because their words were misconstrued; the teachers who convey their solidarity, respect, and desire for equality, but fail to demonstrate any action toward freedom – they exist more than you realize. The question I pose: Are you one of those teachers?

An educational system that teaches children how to combat racist, xenophobic, homophobic, Islamophobic, and patriarchal ideas while teaching them how to thrive economically is imperative, and it is fundamentally damaging when educators see no need to address the aforementioned. If you are an educator, I implore you to do your own research (some of your Black colleagues are vexed that they are your personal Google search while simultaneously teaching their own students). I implore you to stop using your parent’s views, news outlets, and social media as the foundation of thought. Find books, documentaries, and, perhaps, people who challenge your way of thinking. Do not use the excuse of lack of knowledge as a crutch for not having conversations and do not be afraid of a negative response. There are those that will always uphold their beliefs and faith in the system no matter how much you discuss, write, or demonstrate.

Black people across this nation are hurting. The last thing we want to hear right now is someone’s opinion regarding the one race/human race, political views, or why all lives matter. We want to matter to everyone, we want a nation that stands on the principles that it states, and we do not want to be condemned for the hurt, anger, and sadness that we are demonstrating. If you feel uncomfortable or uneasy with all that you are seeing, good. Stand on the right side of this and stop straddling the fence.