Sometimes you just know when you are in the right place and doing the right thing. At the same time, you also know when you could and should be doing more or doing something differently. When I interviewed for my current teaching position, the moment I stepped foot on the campus, I knew that I would be hired because everything felt right. I had just been rejected from two doctoral programs, and I knew in my heart that this teaching position was the reason why. The idea of changing girls' lives while working in academia seemed absolutely perfect. Now that I'm teaching, after facing the challenges of being in a new place and then surviving the Winter Blues, I know that I'm doing the right thing, and I'm in the right place.
Girls who attend our school receive a top-notch education from highly qualified teachers (almost all of the 9-12 teachers have advanced degrees), and 100% of our graduates go to four-year colleges and universities. On top of creating an environment where students feel confident to be themselves and discover their abilities, our school gives teachers the freedom to develop and explore as well.
So, why do I feel conflicted? The truth is I've always felt slightly guilty about working in an independent school. Like most independent schools in the country, the school where I work comes with an expensive tuition price tag. While the school offers scholarships that can cover up to 90% of tuition, the majority of families pay SOMETHING for their daughters to attend. I know that my girls need me, but I also know that there are millions of children who do not even have the option to attend a quality school because they can't pay for education, and they live in a district with a failing school. Families should not have to pay for school for their children to have the chance at an education that will change their lives for the better.
Until this point, I have felt powerless to change the problems that I see in the public education system. After all, what am I supposed to do? Leave a job that I love and teach in a school system that's failing? Start my own school that will serve a limited number of students? Give up on teaching altogether? No. While I have no doubt that I am where I belong, I also have no doubt that I should be doing more. I have long recognized my calling to improve the lives of people all around me, to build communities and change perspectives. Instead of feeling guilty about working where I do, I am going to accept and use my talents as an educator and a writer to fight for our children, to fight for this country. I hope that if you read this you will join me in advocating for the rights of our children.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Five Jobs That Make Me Appreciate Being a Teacher
This has been a bit of a rough week in my life as a teacher. Only about three weeks into the new semester, I am already starting to feel overwhelmed. In my everyday interactions, I get the impression that people think teaching is not a difficult job. After all, we are teaching subjects that we know, so that should be pretty easy, right? Not really. As a teacher, I would say that only about 70% of my job involves actually providing instruction. The other part of the time is spent planning, going to meetings, doing after school duties, planning, and did I mention meetings? My day as a teacher does not end until I turn my brain off to get some sleep. And even then, I still confront my duties in my dreams. The difficulty in teaching lies in the fact that there is no real time clock.
So in an effort to consider alternatives before I take to complaining, I have compiled a list of other jobs with nonexistent time clocks that make better appreciate my job as a teacher.
5. Emergency Room Doctor – Even though I would take an ER doctor’s salary any day, I love my sleep. I love my Saturdays and my summers. If you work in the ER, not only do you not get summers or Saturdays off, you are obligated to be on-call. So you might have to leave in the middle of dinner, your favorite t.v. show, or even in the middle of rare significant other quality time. Not cool. I’m sure I could find time to spend the money if I were an ER doctor, but I am glad not to have a job where I am on call. I can turn my phone off and avoid my email like the plague.
4. Airline pilot – Many airline pilots are overworked and underpaid, kind of like teachers. ☺ Again, being an airline pilot would interfere with my quality sleeping time. I cannot remember being on a flight that was longer than an hour that didn’t make me fall asleep. But airline pilots can’t sleep on the flights, at least not according to their job descriptions. Pilots have to be alert and more importantly, they have to fly big ass planes with hundreds of passengers. No thanks.
3. Soldier – I think this goes without saying. Soldiers belong to an entity other than themselves. If they move up in rank, the pay is decent, but they pretty much have to go to war to get those top ranking positions. Even though I put my sanity at risk everyday by working as a teacher, I cannot imagine having to go out onto a physical battlefield with guns, bombs, and people trained to use those weapons effectively. I know that many soldiers make it out of war physically intact, but many don’t. Among those soldiers who make it home, many suffer from mental disturbances I would not wish on anyone. Hats off to the soldiers (and I mean soldiers in the actual military, not people from the ‘hood who are fighting for nothing).
2. President of the United States – Whether you love or hate President Obama, G-Dub, or Bill Clinton, you have to admit, the job of being the president is pretty damn hard. Talk about a job without a time clock. There are over 300 million people in this country who deserve protection under the constitution. Imagine having to be the person to make decisions like Harry Truman. Imagine having to figure out how to find money for programs to get the country out of a recession or a depression. I don’t even like balancing my own checking account, so I definitely would not want to balance a budget in an numerical range that I can’t even count to. (I mean I could if I tried, but I’m a teacher; I don’t have time for that). I don’t always agree with everything the president does, but I’m sure glad I’m not the one making those decisions.
1. Parent – This is the hardest job ever. At some point in life, I will take on this task, but right now I am content to not have to drop whatever I’m doing to tend to a person that I brought into the world. Being a parent never ends. You can retire from all of the other jobs on this list or quit them, but you can never quit being a parent. Even if you stop taking care of your responsibilities, being a parent is eternal. Taking care of a child is no walk in the park. Even if you have a well-behaved, obedient child, you still have to think about protecting that child from harm and comforting the child when you can’t protect her/him from everything. Making the decision to be a parent should not be taken lightly, and I have the utmost respect for parents who care about their children and have taken on this lifelong career with no time clock.
So in an effort to consider alternatives before I take to complaining, I have compiled a list of other jobs with nonexistent time clocks that make better appreciate my job as a teacher.
5. Emergency Room Doctor – Even though I would take an ER doctor’s salary any day, I love my sleep. I love my Saturdays and my summers. If you work in the ER, not only do you not get summers or Saturdays off, you are obligated to be on-call. So you might have to leave in the middle of dinner, your favorite t.v. show, or even in the middle of rare significant other quality time. Not cool. I’m sure I could find time to spend the money if I were an ER doctor, but I am glad not to have a job where I am on call. I can turn my phone off and avoid my email like the plague.
4. Airline pilot – Many airline pilots are overworked and underpaid, kind of like teachers. ☺ Again, being an airline pilot would interfere with my quality sleeping time. I cannot remember being on a flight that was longer than an hour that didn’t make me fall asleep. But airline pilots can’t sleep on the flights, at least not according to their job descriptions. Pilots have to be alert and more importantly, they have to fly big ass planes with hundreds of passengers. No thanks.
3. Soldier – I think this goes without saying. Soldiers belong to an entity other than themselves. If they move up in rank, the pay is decent, but they pretty much have to go to war to get those top ranking positions. Even though I put my sanity at risk everyday by working as a teacher, I cannot imagine having to go out onto a physical battlefield with guns, bombs, and people trained to use those weapons effectively. I know that many soldiers make it out of war physically intact, but many don’t. Among those soldiers who make it home, many suffer from mental disturbances I would not wish on anyone. Hats off to the soldiers (and I mean soldiers in the actual military, not people from the ‘hood who are fighting for nothing).
2. President of the United States – Whether you love or hate President Obama, G-Dub, or Bill Clinton, you have to admit, the job of being the president is pretty damn hard. Talk about a job without a time clock. There are over 300 million people in this country who deserve protection under the constitution. Imagine having to be the person to make decisions like Harry Truman. Imagine having to figure out how to find money for programs to get the country out of a recession or a depression. I don’t even like balancing my own checking account, so I definitely would not want to balance a budget in an numerical range that I can’t even count to. (I mean I could if I tried, but I’m a teacher; I don’t have time for that). I don’t always agree with everything the president does, but I’m sure glad I’m not the one making those decisions.
1. Parent – This is the hardest job ever. At some point in life, I will take on this task, but right now I am content to not have to drop whatever I’m doing to tend to a person that I brought into the world. Being a parent never ends. You can retire from all of the other jobs on this list or quit them, but you can never quit being a parent. Even if you stop taking care of your responsibilities, being a parent is eternal. Taking care of a child is no walk in the park. Even if you have a well-behaved, obedient child, you still have to think about protecting that child from harm and comforting the child when you can’t protect her/him from everything. Making the decision to be a parent should not be taken lightly, and I have the utmost respect for parents who care about their children and have taken on this lifelong career with no time clock.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
The Illusion of Post-Racialism
One of my favorite publications for updates on news and issues relevant to the black community is The Root. Earlier this week I found myself perusing the website for hours and an article entitled "Race Card Fraud" by Thomas Sowell caught my attention. Sowell's article begins with condemnation of the NAACP for claiming the Tea Party is racist. Now, I am not writing to speak on my feelings about the NAACP or to discuss whether or not I agree with the organization's allegations against the Tea Party. Instead, I would like to address Sowell's suggestions that President Obama is somehow hurting our country's racial climate.
According to Sowell:
"Among people who voted for Barack Obama in 2008, those who are likely to be most disappointed are those who thought that they were voting for a new post-racial era."
Upon reading this statement I wondered: How many black people (and ethnic minorities in general) voted for Obama because they thought we were moving into a POST-RACIAL era?
In order to understand why I take issue with Sowell's assumptions about Obama and post-racialism, let me explain how I feel about the term post-racial. On the surface, the term may sound inviting. However, despite a supposed emphasis on lack of racial differences, I feel the philosophy behind post-racialism shares the same laissez-faire racist attitudes of "colorblindness." In other words, post-racialism masks itself as equality when really the goal is to make privileged people feel less guilty about their advantages over everyone else. This ideology can be deemed racist because it trivializes the social meaning of skin color in our society. Therefore, the post-racial society of which Sowell speaks is one where black people and other oppressed minority groups will finally just shut the hell up about discrimination because no one "sees" race anymore. In a TRUE "post-racial" society, people would not be offered privileges or denied privileges based on skin color. While that situation would be ideal, it would be almost impossible in this country. Before we reach post-racial status, we have to acknowledge that racial inequality STILL exists in 2010 even though we have a black president. Minorities (not just blacks) DO NOT have EQUAL (and I stress the word EQUAL) access to opportunity.
Sowell goes on to discuss how Obama is clearly the opposite of the post-racial President his supporters thought he would have been:
"There is not now, nor has there ever been, anything post-racial about Barack Obama, except for the people who voted for him in the mistaken belief that he shared their desire to be post-racial. When he leaves office, especially if it is after one term, he will leave this country more racially polarized than before."
Can we really blame racial polarization on Obama? Is Sowell serious? I'm no historian (at least not a professional one), but I would argue that indigenous genocide, slavery, and the systemic oppression of minority groups have contributed more to racial polarization than ONE BLACK PRESIDENT who has been in office for less than two years! I think that Obama's presidency has resurfaced racial tensions because oppressors are afraid that Obama will empower the oppressed, and the oppressed are afraid that he won't. I do not believe we can fault Obama for equality struggles as old as this country.
Ultimately, I feel post-racialism in our country's present state remains an illusion. Before we can move to a POST-racial era, we must address and offer valid solutions within the RACIAL era (right now) in which society assigns social advantages and disadvantages according to racial groups.
According to Sowell:
"Among people who voted for Barack Obama in 2008, those who are likely to be most disappointed are those who thought that they were voting for a new post-racial era."
Upon reading this statement I wondered: How many black people (and ethnic minorities in general) voted for Obama because they thought we were moving into a POST-RACIAL era?
In order to understand why I take issue with Sowell's assumptions about Obama and post-racialism, let me explain how I feel about the term post-racial. On the surface, the term may sound inviting. However, despite a supposed emphasis on lack of racial differences, I feel the philosophy behind post-racialism shares the same laissez-faire racist attitudes of "colorblindness." In other words, post-racialism masks itself as equality when really the goal is to make privileged people feel less guilty about their advantages over everyone else. This ideology can be deemed racist because it trivializes the social meaning of skin color in our society. Therefore, the post-racial society of which Sowell speaks is one where black people and other oppressed minority groups will finally just shut the hell up about discrimination because no one "sees" race anymore. In a TRUE "post-racial" society, people would not be offered privileges or denied privileges based on skin color. While that situation would be ideal, it would be almost impossible in this country. Before we reach post-racial status, we have to acknowledge that racial inequality STILL exists in 2010 even though we have a black president. Minorities (not just blacks) DO NOT have EQUAL (and I stress the word EQUAL) access to opportunity.
Sowell goes on to discuss how Obama is clearly the opposite of the post-racial President his supporters thought he would have been:
"There is not now, nor has there ever been, anything post-racial about Barack Obama, except for the people who voted for him in the mistaken belief that he shared their desire to be post-racial. When he leaves office, especially if it is after one term, he will leave this country more racially polarized than before."
Can we really blame racial polarization on Obama? Is Sowell serious? I'm no historian (at least not a professional one), but I would argue that indigenous genocide, slavery, and the systemic oppression of minority groups have contributed more to racial polarization than ONE BLACK PRESIDENT who has been in office for less than two years! I think that Obama's presidency has resurfaced racial tensions because oppressors are afraid that Obama will empower the oppressed, and the oppressed are afraid that he won't. I do not believe we can fault Obama for equality struggles as old as this country.
Ultimately, I feel post-racialism in our country's present state remains an illusion. Before we can move to a POST-racial era, we must address and offer valid solutions within the RACIAL era (right now) in which society assigns social advantages and disadvantages according to racial groups.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
The Master's House
The first time I ever read anything by Audre Lorde was during the summer of 2005 when I participated in a research program. In almost five years, I have never forgotten one particular line in one of her essays, "The master's tools will never dismantle the master's house."
Around this time last year I remember watching Obama's inauguration and the overwhelming sense of pride I felt watching all of those people stand outside in the freezing cold just to see Obama take his place in this country's history. I also remember saying that we had to be careful not to look at Obama as a political magician who would somehow wave a magic wand and fix everything that is wrong with this country. In the last two weeks I have read various commentaries about how many black people have expressed disappointment in the fact that Obama has not addressed race issues since he has been in office. Many of these critics believe that Obama is in a unique position to help black Americans since he is the President and he is black. Disillusioned voters feel that their high hopes have not been fulfilled.
I have to admit, I loved watching Obama during the elections. I found his speeches inspiring, and I even bought into the "Yes We Can" rhetoric. At the same time, I knew that Audre Lorde's statement would hold true - black president or not. "The master's tools will never dismantle the master's house." In other words, it seems that the black people who had such high hopes that Obama would address race issues want to see radical change in how this country treats its black population. But we must remember that Obama CHOSE to run for president of this country, which means that for the most part, he is happy with the government structure the way it is. While he may want to make a few policy changes here and there, his goal in running for president was to live in "the master's house" - to be in charge of our so-called democratic nation. Unless Obama plans to pull a Fidel Castro I think it's safe to say that he does not intend to make any real changes to the government structure.
Beneath Obama's "Yes WE Can" lies the more subtle "No I can't." As president, Obama CAN'T revolutionize the treatment of black America. "Democracy" means that the majority rules, and the majority doesn't give a (insert four letter word of choice) about black America. As the leader of this democratic system, Obama cannot ignore the majority and therefore cannot address black issues on a national level even if he wants to on a personal level.
I do not intend this blog as a dis to Obama. I'm just pointing out that revolution does not occur within an already corrupted system.
Around this time last year I remember watching Obama's inauguration and the overwhelming sense of pride I felt watching all of those people stand outside in the freezing cold just to see Obama take his place in this country's history. I also remember saying that we had to be careful not to look at Obama as a political magician who would somehow wave a magic wand and fix everything that is wrong with this country. In the last two weeks I have read various commentaries about how many black people have expressed disappointment in the fact that Obama has not addressed race issues since he has been in office. Many of these critics believe that Obama is in a unique position to help black Americans since he is the President and he is black. Disillusioned voters feel that their high hopes have not been fulfilled.
I have to admit, I loved watching Obama during the elections. I found his speeches inspiring, and I even bought into the "Yes We Can" rhetoric. At the same time, I knew that Audre Lorde's statement would hold true - black president or not. "The master's tools will never dismantle the master's house." In other words, it seems that the black people who had such high hopes that Obama would address race issues want to see radical change in how this country treats its black population. But we must remember that Obama CHOSE to run for president of this country, which means that for the most part, he is happy with the government structure the way it is. While he may want to make a few policy changes here and there, his goal in running for president was to live in "the master's house" - to be in charge of our so-called democratic nation. Unless Obama plans to pull a Fidel Castro I think it's safe to say that he does not intend to make any real changes to the government structure.
Beneath Obama's "Yes WE Can" lies the more subtle "No I can't." As president, Obama CAN'T revolutionize the treatment of black America. "Democracy" means that the majority rules, and the majority doesn't give a (insert four letter word of choice) about black America. As the leader of this democratic system, Obama cannot ignore the majority and therefore cannot address black issues on a national level even if he wants to on a personal level.
I do not intend this blog as a dis to Obama. I'm just pointing out that revolution does not occur within an already corrupted system.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Warning: N*ggers on Twitter!!
Surprise, surprise people are being prejudiced on twitter!
Actually, I'm not all that shocked, offended, but not shocked. According to an article posted on www.bvblackspin.com, apparently some people found the fact that the BET Awards made it to the trending topics on Twitter quite disconcerting. These small minded people felt America should not waste its time tweeting about Negroes, and yes, one person actually said "wow too many negros (note the incorrect spelling) in the trending topics for me, I may be done with this whole twitter thing."
Long before Twitter even became popular, the BET Awards have always had a buzz in the black community. Even though often times we are not necessarily pleased with these shows, we watch them to stay in the black loop. This year, the BET awards were especially anticipated because of the death of Michael Jackson. With the Awards occurring so soon after Jackson's death, BET seized the opportunity to make the show a tribute his life. Black people who are Michael Jackson fans expected this award show to be dynamic and were looking forward to the celebration of an icon of the music industry. Even though Michael Jackson undoubtedly had fans of all races and cultures, black people felt particularly connected to this star who influenced much of our musical culture. Black folks were just plain excited.
Unfortunately black people, we've expended all of our opportunities to be excited for this year. They excused us during Obama's inauguration and Black History Month, but when it comes to popular culture and entertainment, we should be quiet. When so many people on Twitter started talking about the BET Awards and the black people who were a part of those awards, others (mainly white people) were upset. In response to the overwhelming number of black people in the trending topics one tweeter wrote, "I don't think this is a very good neighborhood. Lock the doors kids." Really? Based on the comments of this person and others instigating the whole "Negro conversation," black people need to have our own separate Twitter just like we have our own separate television stations so that others do not have to be bothered with anything going on in our trivial little world.
I understand that the BET Awards are not important in the grand scheme of things, but neither are iphones or movie releases, and other ridiculous topics that have made their ways to the trending topics on Twitter. People want to discuss popular culture, that's why it's POPULAR. I'm sure that if the Oscars, Grammys, or MTV awards were in the trending topics, that would be okay. It's just that when too many "niggers" start talking people get offended and afraid.
Actually, I'm not all that shocked, offended, but not shocked. According to an article posted on www.bvblackspin.com, apparently some people found the fact that the BET Awards made it to the trending topics on Twitter quite disconcerting. These small minded people felt America should not waste its time tweeting about Negroes, and yes, one person actually said "wow too many negros (note the incorrect spelling) in the trending topics for me, I may be done with this whole twitter thing."
Long before Twitter even became popular, the BET Awards have always had a buzz in the black community. Even though often times we are not necessarily pleased with these shows, we watch them to stay in the black loop. This year, the BET awards were especially anticipated because of the death of Michael Jackson. With the Awards occurring so soon after Jackson's death, BET seized the opportunity to make the show a tribute his life. Black people who are Michael Jackson fans expected this award show to be dynamic and were looking forward to the celebration of an icon of the music industry. Even though Michael Jackson undoubtedly had fans of all races and cultures, black people felt particularly connected to this star who influenced much of our musical culture. Black folks were just plain excited.
Unfortunately black people, we've expended all of our opportunities to be excited for this year. They excused us during Obama's inauguration and Black History Month, but when it comes to popular culture and entertainment, we should be quiet. When so many people on Twitter started talking about the BET Awards and the black people who were a part of those awards, others (mainly white people) were upset. In response to the overwhelming number of black people in the trending topics one tweeter wrote, "I don't think this is a very good neighborhood. Lock the doors kids." Really? Based on the comments of this person and others instigating the whole "Negro conversation," black people need to have our own separate Twitter just like we have our own separate television stations so that others do not have to be bothered with anything going on in our trivial little world.
I understand that the BET Awards are not important in the grand scheme of things, but neither are iphones or movie releases, and other ridiculous topics that have made their ways to the trending topics on Twitter. People want to discuss popular culture, that's why it's POPULAR. I'm sure that if the Oscars, Grammys, or MTV awards were in the trending topics, that would be okay. It's just that when too many "niggers" start talking people get offended and afraid.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
How to Love...Yourself
For many people, self-acceptance can be a lifelong journey. For the majority of my life, I have battled with my image and trying to love and appreciate the body I see in the mirror as much as the personality who accompanies that body. As a young child I struggled with loving my skin color and my hair texture (both of which I currently embrace to the utmost degree), but my biggest self-image obstacle by far has been my weight. To the people most important to me, my weight does not and never has mattered. But to the teenage girl and later young woman bombarded with images and standards that do not match with who I am, I often find myself on the front line of the battle for self-acceptance.
A few weeks ago, the New York Times published an article called, “Bingeing on Celebrity Weight Battles.” Other than discussing celebrities’ battles with diets that don’t work, the article emphasized how American society stigmatizes people who are not thin, or otherwise called fat. Our society villainizes overweight people and attributes their weight to greediness or lack of motivation to lose weight. Such stigmas normalize discrimination and/or prejudice directed toward overweight people. Even those who have finally come to terms with the fact that they may never be thin can resort to a type of self-loathing and destructive criticism.
While I do support living a healthy lifestlye, I’m sure we’ve all learned in a health class at one point or another that being healthy means more than having a thin body. In actuality, being healthy does not necessarily require or produce a thin body. Sustaining a healthy body calls for developing and nurturing a healthy mindset and a healthy spirit, which can be complicated by societal standards and stigmas along with economic motives of those who profit from our insecurities.
I admit, ignoring media is impossible and futile. However looking at your reflection everyday and recognizing that you are just as beautiful (maybe more) as any starved media icon will open the door to self-acceptance. I want to live a healthier life, and if I lose weight as a result, fine. If not, that’s fine too. Losing weight is not worth losing me because after all the tears, angry diary entries, and edging on the brink of insanity, I do love me.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Education Woes
We cannot continue overlooking problems and think they will disappear. Last week, I began a new job as a math tutor in an elementary school. I enjoy working with my students, but I cannot ignore my issues with the teaching style prevalent at this school (and many other schools). Our students are being tested to death, and teachers are no longer teaching students. They are teaching tests. Therefore, our students are not learning how to think critically. They are only learning process of elimination, and some of them aren’t even learning that.
Test taking skills are valuable. You will need strategies when taking standardized tests that are meant to trip you up. These skills will help our students pass the abundance of tests they will take during their school careers, but they are not preparing students for college or the real world. Jobs, no matter how menial, require thinking beyond letters and bubble sheets. As far as college preparation, of the 133 credit hours I took in undergrad, I remember taking five classes at the most that had multiple choice tests, and they were difficult. I’m not completely opposed to multiple choice tests, but students need to develop skills beyond “slash and circle.”
I think there is an overall lack of agency surrounding the issue of public education in this country. Right now, people are so consumed with the economy, and for good reason. Unfortunately, it seems that there’s no room to advocate for students. Well, this is the truth: If we continue to ignore the fact that these tests are ruining our students’ critical thinking capability we can forget about ever coming out of this recession. What kinds of jobs will these children be qualified to do? Our natural resources are running out. The earth is becoming more crowded. People need food, medicine, and sustainable development. We need to be developing the next generation of problem solvers. This world is changing, and if we don’t get with it, we are going to get lost.
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