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Lesson 6: White Privilege
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Talk About It: Real World Issues
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Lesson 5: Stereotypes
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Lesson 4: Bias
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Lesson 3: Identity
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Lesson 2: Race
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Lesson 1: Diversity
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Not Quite Snow White: Representation and Race
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When do you feel most appreciated as an educator?

When do you feel most appreciated as an educator? For me it’s when I feel seen, heard, respected, and truly valued for all I bring to the table.
As a Black educator, I don't want to work for someone who says, "I don't care what color you are, as long as you do a good job. If you don't see all of me (or others), you won't value all of me. If you don't see all of me, you won't recognize my struggles or what I might be up against and seek to understand them. If you don't see all of me, you won't recognize the perspective and assets I bring to the table because of my experiences.

If I share something that describes racist behavio

If I share something that describes racist behavior, and you realize you engage in that behavior, and you take that as me calling you a racist, your first thought shouldn't be to come and attack me and explain why you aren't racist. Your first thought should be, "I need to do some self-reflection and find out if this is really indicative of who I am and who I want to be."
I have to do the same thing when I learn about oppressed communities I'm not a part of, but need to use my privilege to stand with, amplify, and take action with.
You need to do more reading and reflecting on your own. Your research about racial issues should not start and end with me or on Instagram, for that matter.
There are people with doctorates and years of experience around this work. Pay them for their time and actual resources if you truly wish to do better. You can't list your behaviors to me and have me determine if you're "good enough" or not.
1. That's not a thing.
2. I have no interest in doing that.
Words in image say: I know people use me as a resource, but I am not a resource. I'm a person on the internet sharing my thoughts, feelings, and experiences. If any of that convicts you, that sounds like a you issue.
Maybe I've been on this side of Beyoncé's internet for too long. I'm tired of it. My posts are always tied to my real life experiences. If something I said made you feel some type of way, I can't control that.

I've heard the excuse recently that taking some ac

I've heard the excuse recently that taking some action towards being anti-racist might seem performative... well, what do you think no change at all in over a year looks like?
I don't need an answer in the comments or my DMs, but with the exception of becoming aware that racism really is real, what significant change have you made? How are you different than last year? What is your new normal as a person who claims to be anti-racist and support the Black Lives Matter movement?
You listened and you learned, but what have you been applying? How often are you applying it?
That low-key racist family member or friend you've been working on- did they change? Do they now avoid you because you've been non-stop about anti-racist conversations with them? Or have you just decided to drop it and return to business as usual? (The saying, "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em." comes to mind)
Personally, I'm tired of the excuses and behavior I see from my own friends and acquaintances that should know better. Friends and acquaintances that know better and choose to protect white supremacy instead. Friends and acquaintances that have grown bored of the BLM "trend" and have returned to business as usual. We (the Black community) knew it was coming, but man. Some of y'all are something else.
"If I was a live during the Civil Rights Movement, I would have been marching alongside Dr. King"... would you though? Or would you show up one day for a performative selfie and then forget all about it? The movement never ended. This is a continuation! What you're doing now is what you would have done then.
Your Black friends don't owe you unwaivering friendship and grace while you decide if you are going to show up for Black people or not. While you decide if you are going stay on the sidelines or get in the game.

Black people aren’t too sensitive about racism.

Black people aren’t too sensitive about racism. White people expect Black people to deal with racism in a way that still makes them feel comfortable. The fact that we don’t is more than some can handle.
This shows up when you call someone out or call someone in (which is uncomfortable for everyone involved, not just the white person) and their immediate reaction is defense, dismay, and even anger.
"You know me." "I didn't mean it THAT way." "I'm offended you would think that." "This is absurd." "I have a Black friend/kid/partner/in-law." "I need more time to figure this stuff out." "But that's my family member."
So you agree racism is evil, but not when it's coming from someone you know? Addressing that doesn't need urgency?
So, you don't like racism, but you don't want to know when you're being racist so you can change your behavior and then help others change their behavior?
You can spot and be disgusted with racism in others, but you can't handle when it may be coming from you? You read posts and think of your co-worker, but don't stop and think about it in yourself?
You would rather silence Black voices, minimize Black experiences, and gaslight Black people than change your racist thinking and that's so so sad.
Being in this cycle with people on this platform and in real life is exhausting. The caring, then not caring. The caring, but not caring enough. The listening and learning, but never applying. The still being unsure of where to start when Black people have been saying what is needed for centuries.
White supremacy has people bending over backwards to protect it. It's sick. It's scary.
In therapy I've been working through racial trauma, among other things.
We talked about that fact that I always feel like I'm on guard. My therapist and I agreed that this is no way to live life. That God put Black people on Earth for so much more than this. Buuuuut it's also very valid because there are things all around us big and small to be on guard for. We have to be on guard to stay alive. Just existing as a Black person could be a death sentence in this country.
It's. exhausting.

Stand with educators because too many of my friend

Stand with educators because too many of my friends are going home crying on the daily, being forced into resigning, or dealing with mental health issues as a direct result from what teaching has become. Teacher burn out is a real and a sad reality. It was my plan to return to the classroom next year, but after some conversations I've had this week, I'm not sure if that's right for me.
Check out my new tee from the collaboration between @theafroeducator @kindcotton and @theburnedinteacher which are now on sale @kindcotton page!
For every t-shirt sold, a portion of the proceeds will go towards sponsoring an educator to join the Burned-In Teacher Mastermind.
Burned-In Teacher empowers burned-out teachers to believe that they deserve and can achieve a happier and more fulfilled career and life. BIT stands by the belief that in order to protect the mental health of teachers, special attention should be paid to practicing more than conventional self-care.
#standwitheducators #educator #teachersofinstagram #teachersfollowteachers #teachersdeservemore #bethechange #useyourvoice

UPDATE: ALL WINNERS HAVE BEEN CONTACTED!!!! THIS G

UPDATE: ALL WINNERS HAVE BEEN CONTACTED!!!! THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. Someone was kind enough to donate 5 free spots to our summer course!! We are very thankful and excited to be able to give away 5 spots to 5 different families that see the value in talking to the children in their care about diversity, race, identity, bias, stereotypes, and even police brutality.
If you'd like to be considered for a spot in our summer course, comment below about why you think having these conversations with young kids is needed.
You can also tag a family you think might be interested!
Link in bio for more details about the course.

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