when I say schooling is a mechanism for racial control does that make you
racial control does that make you
racial control does that make you uncomfortable saying it makes me cringe
uncomfortable saying it makes me cringe
uncomfortable saying it makes me cringe a little slavery was a mechanism for
a little slavery was a mechanism for
a little slavery was a mechanism for racial control right but what could be
racial control right but what could be
racial control right but what could be more debilitating to a child and to a
more debilitating to a child and to a
more debilitating to a child and to a nation than a child being miseducated i
nation than a child being miseducated i
nation than a child being miseducated i was born prematurely to a teen mom in
was born prematurely to a teen mom in
was born prematurely to a teen mom in the summer of 1973 on the very next day
the summer of 1973 on the very next day
the summer of 1973 on the very next day the other mothers in my hometown filed
the other mothers in my hometown filed
the other mothers in my hometown filed suit against the local public school
suit against the local public school
suit against the local public school district for failing to deliver the
district for failing to deliver the
district for failing to deliver the promises of brown versus the Board of
promises of brown versus the Board of
promises of brown versus the Board of Education 20 years after it was decided
Education 20 years after it was decided
Education 20 years after it was decided for the rest of America they had to wait
for the rest of America they had to wait
for the rest of America they had to wait until I got here
when I was a girl 20% of my waking hours
when I was a girl 20% of my waking hours were entrusted to schools the integrated
were entrusted to schools the integrated
were entrusted to schools the integrated buildings I was bused to were places of
buildings I was bused to were places of
buildings I was bused to were places of refuge and intolerance I love school
refuge and intolerance I love school
refuge and intolerance I love school because books were there I hated schools
because books were there I hated schools
because books were there I hated schools because I was misunderstood I wanted
because I was misunderstood I wanted
because I was misunderstood I wanted something for my teachers that they
something for my teachers that they
something for my teachers that they couldn’t give me or didn’t know they
couldn’t give me or didn’t know they
couldn’t give me or didn’t know they needed to I knew that certain labels
needed to I knew that certain labels
needed to I knew that certain labels mattered to my teachers Shelley has a
mattered to my teachers Shelley has a
mattered to my teachers Shelley has a single mother my mama was married my dad
single mother my mama was married my dad
single mother my mama was married my dad lived in a different state showing these
lived in a different state showing these
lived in a different state showing these special ed services because when she
special ed services because when she
special ed services because when she finally speaks we don’t understand what
finally speaks we don’t understand what
finally speaks we don’t understand what she’s saying
she’s saying
she’s saying not Shelley got her Mama’s Mississippi
not Shelley got her Mama’s Mississippi
not Shelley got her Mama’s Mississippi accent Shelly’s family lives in poverty
accent Shelly’s family lives in poverty
accent Shelly’s family lives in poverty not that we lived with my
not that we lived with my
not that we lived with my great-grandparents who were homeowners
great-grandparents who were homeowners
great-grandparents who were homeowners who had migrated from Mississippi for a
who had migrated from Mississippi for a
who had migrated from Mississippi for a better life when I was a girl you could
better life when I was a girl you could
better life when I was a girl you could not have told me that my experience was
not have told me that my experience was
not have told me that my experience was abnormal it was my normal I loved my
abnormal it was my normal I loved my
abnormal it was my normal I loved my family in my neighborhood I loved that
family in my neighborhood I loved that
family in my neighborhood I loved that house with a huge vegetable garden and
house with a huge vegetable garden and
house with a huge vegetable garden and peach trees in the middle of the city
peach trees in the middle of the city
peach trees in the middle of the city where Gardens should not grow
where Gardens should not grow
where Gardens should not grow I loved Colts Park and playing on the
I loved Colts Park and playing on the
I loved Colts Park and playing on the big slide and laughing with my sister
big slide and laughing with my sister
big slide and laughing with my sister and cousins on the weekends and then I’d
and cousins on the weekends and then I’d
and cousins on the weekends and then I’d have to go back to school some of my
have to go back to school some of my
have to go back to school some of my teachers labels were missed labels the
teachers labels were missed labels the
teachers labels were missed labels the kid next to Shelly can’t speak English
kid next to Shelly can’t speak English
kid next to Shelly can’t speak English well not the kid sitting next to her is
well not the kid sitting next to her is
well not the kid sitting next to her is brilliant because he speaks two
brilliant because he speaks two
brilliant because he speaks two languages her classmates are not reading
languages her classmates are not reading
languages her classmates are not reading proficiently not that they’re reading
proficiently not that they’re reading
proficiently not that they’re reading that they’re functionally literate
that they’re functionally literate
that they’re functionally literate with everything they want to read like
with everything they want to read like
with everything they want to read like my aunts romance novels
my aunts romance novels
my aunts romance novels I wondered what the other well-meaning
I wondered what the other well-meaning
I wondered what the other well-meaning white folks in my life like if they knew
white folks in my life like if they knew
white folks in my life like if they knew my teachers the caseworkers the police
my teachers the caseworkers the police
my teachers the caseworkers the police officers who had shown up a few weekends
officers who had shown up a few weekends
officers who had shown up a few weekends the doctors treated my mama’s mental
the doctors treated my mama’s mental
the doctors treated my mama’s mental illness my teachers really didn’t know
illness my teachers really didn’t know
illness my teachers really didn’t know what to do with me
what to do with me
what to do with me I was super smart but painfully silent
I was super smart but painfully silent
I was super smart but painfully silent like I did not speak at school when all
like I did not speak at school when all
like I did not speak at school when all hell was breaking loose in my life I
hell was breaking loose in my life I
hell was breaking loose in my life I ended up being forced to move from my
ended up being forced to move from my
ended up being forced to move from my home to joy in Burton’s home to people
home to joy in Burton’s home to people
home to joy in Burton’s home to people who were much more than just
who were much more than just
who were much more than just well-meaning white folks to me at school
well-meaning white folks to me at school
well-meaning white folks to me at school when I finally did speak the other black
when I finally did speak the other black
when I finally did speak the other black kids thought I was an Oreo black on the
kids thought I was an Oreo black on the
kids thought I was an Oreo black on the outside white on the inside I didn’t fit
outside white on the inside I didn’t fit
outside white on the inside I didn’t fit in with the white kids in my advanced
in with the white kids in my advanced
in with the white kids in my advanced classes either I chose to walk out with
classes either I chose to walk out with
classes either I chose to walk out with the other black kids at our school’s
the other black kids at our school’s
the other black kids at our school’s race riot though but not without taking
race riot though but not without taking
race riot though but not without taking miss Kelly’s English test first I was a
miss Kelly’s English test first I was a
miss Kelly’s English test first I was a bona fide nerd I started speaking out
bona fide nerd I started speaking out
bona fide nerd I started speaking out against racism at about 16 years old
against racism at about 16 years old
against racism at about 16 years old through teen racial roundtables and a
through teen racial roundtables and a
through teen racial roundtables and a talk show on the radio I decided that
talk show on the radio I decided that
talk show on the radio I decided that schools actually good could be spaces
schools actually good could be spaces
schools actually good could be spaces for racial healing so I decided to
for racial healing so I decided to
for racial healing so I decided to become a teacher I went to college moved
become a teacher I went to college moved
become a teacher I went to college moved out on my own had beautiful babies and
out on my own had beautiful babies and
out on my own had beautiful babies and tried not to allow the stigma of being a
tried not to allow the stigma of being a
tried not to allow the stigma of being a single mom on welfare to define me after
single mom on welfare to define me after
single mom on welfare to define me after nine years I finished college got my
nine years I finished college got my
nine years I finished college got my teaching certificate I got married I
teaching certificate I got married I
teaching certificate I got married I landed my first teaching job I was a
landed my first teaching job I was a
landed my first teaching job I was a master teacher they took that’s what
master teacher they took that’s what
master teacher they took that’s what they said anyway I was a master teacher
they said anyway I was a master teacher
they said anyway I was a master teacher I love my students like they were my own
I love my students like they were my own
I love my students like they were my own there’d be no achievement gap in my
there’d be no achievement gap in my
there’d be no achievement gap in my classroom I wanted to give my students
classroom I wanted to give my students
classroom I wanted to give my students something that I had never gotten I had
something that I had never gotten I had
something that I had never gotten I had five children of my own so the beautiful
five children of my own so the beautiful
five children of my own so the beautiful babies kept coming I thought juggling
babies kept coming I thought juggling
babies kept coming I thought juggling motherhood and teaching was really hard
motherhood and teaching was really hard
motherhood and teaching was really hard but teaching while black was harder
but teaching while black was harder
but teaching while black was harder it was probably like Tekin teaching
it was probably like Tekin teaching
it was probably like Tekin teaching excuse me working while black in any
excuse me working while black in any
excuse me working while black in any other job being one of the only working
other job being one of the only working
other job being one of the only working twice as hard to get half as far
twice as hard to get half as far
twice as hard to get half as far explaining away black kids failed test
explaining away black kids failed test
explaining away black kids failed test taking explaining why so many black boys
taking explaining why so many black boys
taking explaining why so many black boys were in the in-school suspension room
were in the in-school suspension room
were in the in-school suspension room the other teachers needed to hear from
the other teachers needed to hear from
the other teachers needed to hear from me that pitying black kids coddling them
me that pitying black kids coddling them
me that pitying black kids coddling them and a molting about how inconvenient
and a molting about how inconvenient
and a molting about how inconvenient their problems are for you
their problems are for you
their problems are for you solve nothing after I had my last child
solve nothing after I had my last child
solve nothing after I had my last child RJ and about seven years in I was tired
RJ and about seven years in I was tired
RJ and about seven years in I was tired I left teaching plagued with questions
I left teaching plagued with questions
I left teaching plagued with questions how could we have created this dire
how could we have created this dire
how could we have created this dire condition in education where this many
condition in education where this many
condition in education where this many black kids were at the bottom of every
black kids were at the bottom of every
black kids were at the bottom of every positive school ranking the worst and at
positive school ranking the worst and at
positive school ranking the worst and at the very top of most negative school
the very top of most negative school
the very top of most negative school metrics the best at being bad
metrics the best at being bad
metrics the best at being bad what if asking teachers to fix broken
what if asking teachers to fix broken
what if asking teachers to fix broken kids is a waste of time because the
kids is a waste of time because the
kids is a waste of time because the system is functioning precisely as it
system is functioning precisely as it
system is functioning precisely as it was designed to fail black kids in order
was designed to fail black kids in order
was designed to fail black kids in order for you to understand how schooling
for you to understand how schooling
for you to understand how schooling could be a mechanism for racial control
could be a mechanism for racial control
could be a mechanism for racial control you must understand how it works it
you must understand how it works it
you must understand how it works it starts with this socially created lie
starts with this socially created lie
starts with this socially created lie that black kids are biologically
that black kids are biologically
that black kids are biologically different than other kids like the black
different than other kids like the black
different than other kids like the black kid is a monolith and they’re all the
kid is a monolith and they’re all the
kid is a monolith and they’re all the same we perpetuate this lie with the
same we perpetuate this lie with the
same we perpetuate this lie with the reproduction of white culture and that
reproduction of white culture and that
reproduction of white culture and that changes how we perceive kids so when my
changes how we perceive kids so when my
changes how we perceive kids so when my son RJ who’s now 11 walks into his math
son RJ who’s now 11 walks into his math
son RJ who’s now 11 walks into his math class he’s perceived a certain way he
class he’s perceived a certain way he
class he’s perceived a certain way he won’t know what he needs to know he
won’t know what he needs to know he
won’t know what he needs to know he won’t have what he needs to have and
won’t have what he needs to have and
won’t have what he needs to have and he’ll misbehave RJ is nothing like the
he’ll misbehave RJ is nothing like the
he’ll misbehave RJ is nothing like the black kid he’s a hardcore gamer he’s
black kid he’s a hardcore gamer he’s
black kid he’s a hardcore gamer he’s quiet proudly weird
quiet proudly weird
quiet proudly weird and carefree
and carefree
and carefree remember when you had to do those times
remember when you had to do those times
remember when you had to do those times drill math sheets in elementary school
drill math sheets in elementary school
drill math sheets in elementary school doing well with something like that
doing well with something like that
doing well with something like that could like RJ could care less about
could like RJ could care less about
could like RJ could care less about doing well with something like that he’d
doing well with something like that he’d
doing well with something like that he’d be like you know I know the answers
be like you know I know the answers
be like you know I know the answers right why do I have to rush is there a
right why do I have to rush is there a
right why do I have to rush is there a prize so by the time he’s failing his
prize so by the time he’s failing his
prize so by the time he’s failing his 6th grade math tests his inferiority is
6th grade math tests his inferiority is
6th grade math tests his inferiority is actually confirmed and they’ll keep
actually confirmed and they’ll keep
actually confirmed and they’ll keep collecting data about his failure to
collecting data about his failure to
collecting data about his failure to prove whatever they want to prove about
prove whatever they want to prove about
prove whatever they want to prove about kids like him by the time he’s his math
kids like him by the time he’s his math
kids like him by the time he’s his math teacher is calling me and I still
teacher is calling me and I still
teacher is calling me and I still haven’t returned the call by the way but
haven’t returned the call by the way but
haven’t returned the call by the way but by the time his math teacher is calling
by the time his math teacher is calling
by the time his math teacher is calling me he’s wanting to know what’s going on
me he’s wanting to know what’s going on
me he’s wanting to know what’s going on with RJ and what uh what I’d like to say
with RJ and what uh what I’d like to say
with RJ and what uh what I’d like to say to him is RJ don’t care about finding
to him is RJ don’t care about finding
to him is RJ don’t care about finding the least common denominator
the least common denominator
the least common denominator can you tell him how math and technology
can you tell him how math and technology
can you tell him how math and technology make video game characters Carine around
make video game characters Carine around
make video game characters Carine around a corner in a racecar at high speeds
a corner in a racecar at high speeds
a corner in a racecar at high speeds without spinning out that’s the kind of
without spinning out that’s the kind of
without spinning out that’s the kind of stuff he wants to know but not the kind
stuff he wants to know but not the kind
stuff he wants to know but not the kind of talk his teacher wants to have by the
of talk his teacher wants to have by the
of talk his teacher wants to have by the time RJ gets to high school he will
time RJ gets to high school he will
time RJ gets to high school he will never have been exposed to some of the
never have been exposed to some of the
never have been exposed to some of the math that he needs for the AC T another
math that he needs for the AC T another
math that he needs for the AC T another legitimised sir of college read another
legitimised sir of college read another
legitimised sir of college read another legitimise predictor of college
legitimise predictor of college
legitimise predictor of college readiness his life options could be
readiness his life options could be
readiness his life options could be limited especially if his self-efficacy
limited especially if his self-efficacy
limited especially if his self-efficacy is low and his spirit is wearied and
is low and his spirit is wearied and
is low and his spirit is wearied and remember is based on this socially
remember is based on this socially
remember is based on this socially created lie that we just keep retelling
created lie that we just keep retelling
created lie that we just keep retelling about black kids but instead of calling
about black kids but instead of calling
about black kids but instead of calling it a lie we try to address the symptoms
it a lie we try to address the symptoms
it a lie we try to address the symptoms and the supposed bad actors we try to
and the supposed bad actors we try to
and the supposed bad actors we try to assume that his struggles are the sum of
assume that his struggles are the sum of
assume that his struggles are the sum of his experiences and his lack of effort
his experiences and his lack of effort
his experiences and his lack of effort and that his parents and his teachers
and that his parents and his teachers
and that his parents and his teachers aren’t doing enough either the white
aren’t doing enough either the white
aren’t doing enough either the white architects of
architects of
architects of Cooling have controlled the outcomes of
Cooling have controlled the outcomes of
Cooling have controlled the outcomes of countless students for a lot of years
countless students for a lot of years
countless students for a lot of years instead of patching up individual folks
instead of patching up individual folks
instead of patching up individual folks let’s fix the system that keeps
let’s fix the system that keeps
let’s fix the system that keeps reproducing them over and over how do we
reproducing them over and over how do we
reproducing them over and over how do we implement an anti-racist education
implement an anti-racist education
implement an anti-racist education equation we start by mobilizing a
equation we start by mobilizing a
equation we start by mobilizing a critical mass of influencers youth
critical mass of influencers youth
critical mass of influencers youth parents teachers community members
parents teachers community members
parents teachers community members business stakeholders policymakers
business stakeholders policymakers
business stakeholders policymakers funders you me that’s all of us our
funders you me that’s all of us our
funders you me that’s all of us our mobilisation has to start with our
mobilisation has to start with our
mobilisation has to start with our conversations we must together use our
conversations we must together use our
conversations we must together use our influence to defy the lie about the
influence to defy the lie about the
influence to defy the lie about the inferiority of black kids we need to
inferiority of black kids we need to
inferiority of black kids we need to continue mobilizing until we see the
continue mobilizing until we see the
continue mobilizing until we see the kind of change that results in
kind of change that results in
kind of change that results in anti-racist decision-making in our
anti-racist decision-making in our
anti-racist decision-making in our schools our conversation must convert to
schools our conversation must convert to
schools our conversation must convert to collective action we need to make sure
collective action we need to make sure
collective action we need to make sure that we’re focused more on assets than
that we’re focused more on assets than
that we’re focused more on assets than on assumptions more on systems than on
on assumptions more on systems than on
on assumptions more on systems than on sentence less on training and more on
sentence less on training and more on
sentence less on training and more on transformation we must plan implement
transformation we must plan implement
transformation we must plan implement and stay the course we will pass through
and stay the course we will pass through
and stay the course we will pass through failure on our way to success we won’t
failure on our way to success we won’t
failure on our way to success we won’t give up because the gaps don’t close
give up because the gaps don’t close
give up because the gaps don’t close overnight they were not created
overnight they were not created
overnight they were not created overnight will press forward until we
overnight will press forward until we
overnight will press forward until we see the kind of change that results in
see the kind of change that results in
see the kind of change that results in schooling where race is no longer a
schooling where race is no longer a
schooling where race is no longer a predictor of educational outcomes
predictor of educational outcomes
predictor of educational outcomes students forgive us for paying more
students forgive us for paying more
students forgive us for paying more attention to your labels than your lived
attention to your labels than your lived
attention to your labels than your lived experiences teachers forgive us for not
experiences teachers forgive us for not
experiences teachers forgive us for not seeing you as solutions and not
seeing you as solutions and not
seeing you as solutions and not supporting you well you who are not
supporting you well you who are not
supporting you well you who are not teachers you are influencers right where
teachers you are influencers right where
teachers you are influencers right where you are the other place racialization
you are the other place racialization
you are the other place racialization happens is on your job and in your own
happens is on your job and in your own
happens is on your job and in your own homes
homes
homes so where will you start I’ll start with
so where will you start I’ll start with
so where will you start I’ll start with my babies I’m telling them to be there
my babies I’m telling them to be there
my babies I’m telling them to be there black nerdy cells and to deploy their
black nerdy cells and to deploy their
black nerdy cells and to deploy their smarts and their swagger at their
smarts and their swagger at their
smarts and their swagger at their leisure I’m telling them that they can
leisure I’m telling them that they can
leisure I’m telling them that they can take a job or make a job doing whatever
take a job or make a job doing whatever
take a job or make a job doing whatever they dream of most of my kids are quiet
they dream of most of my kids are quiet
they dream of most of my kids are quiet like I was when I was a girl I want to
like I was when I was a girl I want to
like I was when I was a girl I want to unlock their voices I want to unlock
unlock their voices I want to unlock
unlock their voices I want to unlock your voice
your voice
your voice what conversation will you have first
what conversation will you have first
what conversation will you have first push past any discomforts you have and
push past any discomforts you have and
push past any discomforts you have and do it but remember dialogue is not
do it but remember dialogue is not
do it but remember dialogue is not action dialogue prepares us for the kind
action dialogue prepares us for the kind
action dialogue prepares us for the kind of action that creates lasting change
of action that creates lasting change
of action that creates lasting change together thank you
together thank you
together thank you [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
”
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