True Social Justice & Racial Equity Is Hard Work
Each year, my daughter and I give a speech at her school’s MLK Mass. I often talk about race to adults in very direct, blunt language. I wanted to make sure I kept my moral compass about being “real about racism” but also to have it age-appropriate and understandable […]
White progressive educators and parents, I know lots of you. And I know you think diversity in schools is important. But you all are pushing a sales job on other White parents that has harmful consequences for children of color. We need intentionally diverse schools because Black students deserve access […]
I woke up this morning to two stories dominating my news feed. First, the sudden death of the beloved Black congressman and justice fighter from Baltimore, Elijah Cummings. Second, enthusiastic support for the Chicago Teachers Union strike. I saw the face of their campaign, Stacy Davis Gates, fiercely handling the […]
The media is all over Cardi B for making a video with democratic socialist candidate Bernie Sanders. People who don’t know her are quick to dismiss her as an “uninformed, uneducated Black woman rapper.” But those of us who are Cardi fans know she has always been a history and […]
This week America celebrated the 99th anniversary of the 19th Amendment’s passage, which granted women the right to vote. However, like much of American history, the words in our Constitution don’t reflect the reality of what actually happened. THE TRUTH IS THAT THE SUFFRAGETTES WERE RACIST, OPPORTUNISTIC AND THEY SOLD […]
Dear Black Students: I want to tell you something controversial, something different from the messages most people will give you. I want you to know that simply reading books isn’t the key to academic success, nor is it the key to beating racism and White supremacy. Here’s the truth: Reading […]
A growing number of people are outraged by our current immigration debacle involving refugees on the southern border of the United States: children in concentration camps and denied basic services, like blankets and soap. Many folks so outraged see inhumanity not only in the treatment of refugees upon arrival, but also […]
Dear Black Folks: We need to have a hard, honest, but real conversation. We have a race problem in the social service sector, a lack of Black ran organizations, leaders, and Black created policies. Right now, we have White folks (well-intentioned, I am sure) but White people, who have professionalized […]
As a racial scholar and advocate, with an interest in White liberal northern racism, I’ve been closely following the racial equity “vision statement” conversation with Oak Park Village Board. First it’s amazing that there is this much struggle over A VISION STATEMENT! It’s just words! There is literally nothing actually […]
Registration is now open for the pilot class of Black School! This will be for ages 8-12. The program will run from July 15th-July 19th at Schroder Park in Broadview, IL. Only 15 students will be admitted! All students are accepted regardless of their ability to pay. However, if you […]