The current state of America can feel scary sometimes. Amidst the political showdowns and obscenities, a shaky economy, and opposing views and opposition a lot of people may feel hopeless, unsettled, and sometimes downright restless. One of the dark truths in all the messiness is that racism is still very much alive. There’s a lot of controversy within the black community regarding racism, prejudice, and a complicated relationship with law enforcement. More and more black families are having “The Talk” with their children about how to survive and stay alive in a time of high racial tensions and increased prejudice. It’s heartbreaking and startling that this is a conversation still being had in 2018. Some time ago, Proctor & Gamble partnered with My Black Is Beautiful to release a campaign about The Talk that more minorities are having with their kids. Most black people are usually raised and conditioned to know that our place in the world comes with an entirely different set of rules and repercussions, so The Talk isn’t a new thing. It’s a reminder. In light of a continued spread of hatred and ignorance, now more than ever, it’s important we’re all informed and prayerfully know better and do better too. To see the campaign for The Talk please click here. Stay informed.
I’m a Black educator in my fifth year of teaching middle school English, and in my third as the 8th Grade English PLC (Professional Learning Community) Lead. And while I genuinely enjoy the purposeful work I get to do, seeing the growth of my scholars, and continuing to hone my skills in a content area I’ve loved since I was a little girl, I’ve had to confront some unpleasant experiences in this space. I’d been through much worse when I was an academic advisor at a Christian university. Racism, sexism, harassment, and workplace bullying were sadly norms in that environment. However, some of what I’ve experienced as a Black educator hasn’t been normal … It doesn’t seem normal to be the only Black educator in my department – in a predominantly Black school. One of my Black colleagues once said, “It should look like a Tyler Perry movie in here.” But it doesn’t. It didn’t feel normal being reprimanded in a meeting (during my second year of teaching) by an administrator who went in on...
