Why Black Teachers were vital for me?

I am currently involved in a campaign with several organizations to shine a bright light on the need for more Black Educators, and more importantly to provide actual strategies to make it a reality. Outside of the research and studies that support the presence of Black educators and the powerful impact they have on all students regardless of race and ethnicity, there also exists the personal testimonials.

Here is mine:

As a student, all of the memories I have of being seen or being uplifted were usually with a teacher. A Black teacher. And throughout my educational life, which spanned across K-12, undergraduate and graduate, I can only recount a few educators (Black and White) who provided any kind of light or hope. Or who didn't set out to diminish me.

The first instance was Ms. Jaunes, a strict Black teacher who was feared by most but is the reason that I got on the honor roll. She tutored me and helped me truly understand how smart I really was. I was new to the school, and of course that puts a target on your back. Most teachers did not appreciate my outspokenness, but she relished it. And it was because of her and Ms.Coleman, that I thrived.

There is no reason to mention my predominantly white Catholic High School because I only had one teacher who looked like me for a few days. And my memories of that place just confirmed the fact that I was a fighter and I was always willing to fight for my place no matter what. And that I had to fight. I was active in the school plays, musicals and choir. Oh wait, I do remember Sister Ellen who was always kind and never made me feel invisible. She was a bright light.

Then in college, when everyone in the Theatre department made sure to let me how much they did not like me. It was my English professor, Dr. Davenport who gave me a set of books for class when I didn’t have enough money. He encouraged me to write. To tell my stories through Alice Walker and Toni Morrison. To this very day, I attribute my love for writing to him and his classes.

At my second college, I found Marvin Simms. Let me just say, I would not be on stage today if not for him. The first day we met, I remember just sharing my story through tears and laughter. We talked for hours and then he cast me in Native Son, and after that he showed me what it meant to be Black and fearless in this world. He even got to meet my daughter when she was merely a toddler. And I can still hear him as I walk through this life because his advice and love, are always with me.

This is why Black Educators are important. It means something to see yourself in their eyes. It means something to see what is possible. And more importantly, it is vital to not be silenced and to actually be heard. The reason, I did not give up while being educated had a great deal to do with these few teachers who told me I can and should, while I was standing in a sea of “You can’t.”