[Music] you
if your parents don’t care and can’t
if your parents don’t care and can’t respect our time and come to a
respect our time and come to a
respect our time and come to a parent-teacher conference then I cannot
parent-teacher conference then I cannot
parent-teacher conference then I cannot help you this is what my high school
help you this is what my high school
help you this is what my high school teachers said to me I am going to tell
teachers said to me I am going to tell
teachers said to me I am going to tell you about one of my parents who my high
you about one of my parents who my high
you about one of my parents who my high school teacher assumed did not care
school teacher assumed did not care
school teacher assumed did not care about my education but in fact it had
about my education but in fact it had
about my education but in fact it had always been my mother’s dream for my
always been my mother’s dream for my
always been my mother’s dream for my sisters and I to attend college my
sisters and I to attend college my
sisters and I to attend college my mother grew up in a small town in the
mother grew up in a small town in the
mother grew up in a small town in the eastern mountains of Ghana in the early
eastern mountains of Ghana in the early
eastern mountains of Ghana in the early 60s she was one of six children of some
60s she was one of six children of some
60s she was one of six children of some self-made man in Co Fareed Riya my
self-made man in Co Fareed Riya my
self-made man in Co Fareed Riya my grandfather worked hard and was proud of
grandfather worked hard and was proud of
grandfather worked hard and was proud of all his accomplishments he built this
all his accomplishments he built this
all his accomplishments he built this beautiful pink multi-story home at the
beautiful pink multi-story home at the
beautiful pink multi-story home at the foothills of the mountains and he on
foothills of the mountains and he on
foothills of the mountains and he on apologetically named it uncle Nam Lodge
apologetically named it uncle Nam Lodge
apologetically named it uncle Nam Lodge which loosely translates to I am a loner
which loosely translates to I am a loner
which loosely translates to I am a loner and I did it all by myself my
and I did it all by myself my
and I did it all by myself my grandfather loved all his children and
grandfather loved all his children and
grandfather loved all his children and his grandchildren and as a child I
his grandchildren and as a child I
his grandchildren and as a child I witnessed this when we gathered around
witnessed this when we gathered around
witnessed this when we gathered around his house around the holidays he beamed
his house around the holidays he beamed
his house around the holidays he beamed with joy as he served as chocolate
with joy as he served as chocolate
with joy as he served as chocolate drinks and those Danish butter cookies
drinks and those Danish butter cookies
drinks and those Danish butter cookies the ones that came in the blue metal
the ones that came in the blue metal
the ones that came in the blue metal cans but about the age of nine I began
cans but about the age of nine I began
cans but about the age of nine I began to notice and wonder why all my uncle’s
to notice and wonder why all my uncle’s
to notice and wonder why all my uncle’s had an excellent education my mother did
had an excellent education my mother did
had an excellent education my mother did not I was shocked when my mother told me
not I was shocked when my mother told me
not I was shocked when my mother told me why my mother was terrified to tell her
why my mother was terrified to tell her
why my mother was terrified to tell her father that she wanted to become a nurse
father that she wanted to become a nurse
father that she wanted to become a nurse she said you know girls like me we’re
she said you know girls like me we’re
she said you know girls like me we’re told that we were not intelligent to go
told that we were not intelligent to go
told that we were not intelligent to go past middle school and from everything I
past middle school and from everything I
past middle school and from everything I saw around me I believed it I had no one
saw around me I believed it I had no one
saw around me I believed it I had no one to advocate for me when I dared ask my
to advocate for me when I dared ask my
to advocate for me when I dared ask my father that I wanted to take the exam
father that I wanted to take the exam
father that I wanted to take the exam that will allow me to attend high school
that will allow me to attend high school
that will allow me to attend high school and become a nurse he said Nursing is
and become a nurse he said Nursing is
and become a nurse he said Nursing is not a good profession you’re going to
not a good profession you’re going to
not a good profession you’re going to contract a disease you know you should
contract a disease you know you should
contract a disease you know you should become a sim stris
become a sim stris
become a sim stris I see that you’re very good at mending
I see that you’re very good at mending
I see that you’re very good at mending clothes and you know in a few years
clothes and you know in a few years
clothes and you know in a few years you’re gonna get married anyway my
you’re gonna get married anyway my
you’re gonna get married anyway my mother knew her father loved her and she
mother knew her father loved her and she
mother knew her father loved her and she knew he had the money to pay for her her
knew he had the money to pay for her her
knew he had the money to pay for her her education he just didn’t believe that
education he just didn’t believe that
education he just didn’t believe that she deserved on education my grandfather
she deserved on education my grandfather
she deserved on education my grandfather was an well-meaning man and he believed
was an well-meaning man and he believed
was an well-meaning man and he believed he was given all his children the
he was given all his children the
he was given all his children the appropriate education that he needed he
appropriate education that he needed he
appropriate education that he needed he just didn’t understand the message of
just didn’t understand the message of
just didn’t understand the message of dr. Krueger II agree a gunny an educator
dr. Krueger II agree a gunny an educator
dr. Krueger II agree a gunny an educator who was a strong advocate for the
who was a strong advocate for the
who was a strong advocate for the education of girls in Ghana I’m sure
education of girls in Ghana I’m sure
education of girls in Ghana I’m sure many of you have heard one of his famous
many of you have heard one of his famous
many of you have heard one of his famous quotes says if you educate a man you
quotes says if you educate a man you
quotes says if you educate a man you educate an individual but if you educate
educate an individual but if you educate
educate an individual but if you educate a woman you educate a nation
growing up my mother used to say you
growing up my mother used to say you know God has a good sense of humor
know God has a good sense of humor
know God has a good sense of humor because he blessed me with three
because he blessed me with three
because he blessed me with three daughters so that I can empower them to
daughters so that I can empower them to
daughters so that I can empower them to pursue what was taken from me my mother
pursue what was taken from me my mother
pursue what was taken from me my mother taught us how to be kind appreciative
taught us how to be kind appreciative
taught us how to be kind appreciative and pathetic she taught us how to
and pathetic she taught us how to
and pathetic she taught us how to persevere when before we fell short of
persevere when before we fell short of
persevere when before we fell short of our goals although sometimes she was a
our goals although sometimes she was a
our goals although sometimes she was a little optimistic like when I told her
little optimistic like when I told her
little optimistic like when I told her I’d been accepted into the ph.d program
I’d been accepted into the ph.d program
I’d been accepted into the ph.d program at curry she quickly changed my contact
at curry she quickly changed my contact
at curry she quickly changed my contact information and her phone to say dr.
information and her phone to say dr.
information and her phone to say dr. Kaiser talked about pressure one of the
Kaiser talked about pressure one of the
Kaiser talked about pressure one of the lessons that my mother taught me that
lessons that my mother taught me that
lessons that my mother taught me that stayed with me was about equality and
stayed with me was about equality and
stayed with me was about equality and fairness when we were younger and ma us
fairness when we were younger and ma us
fairness when we were younger and ma us was so affectionately called her will
was so affectionately called her will
was so affectionately called her will give us something to share often it was
give us something to share often it was
give us something to share often it was treat like food
treat like food
treat like food she rocks one of like one of us to share
she rocks one of like one of us to share
she rocks one of like one of us to share and she would say your child you know no
and she would say your child you know no
and she would say your child you know no future II the person who devised picks
future II the person who devised picks
future II the person who devised picks lost the sibling who was in charge of
lost the sibling who was in charge of
lost the sibling who was in charge of dividing up the treat had to carefully
dividing up the treat had to carefully
dividing up the treat had to carefully consider how they would feel if they got
consider how they would feel if they got
consider how they would feel if they got the last treat and as a child it was
the last treat and as a child it was
the last treat and as a child it was easy to vie treats up this way but as I
easy to vie treats up this way but as I
easy to vie treats up this way but as I got older I began to see that dividing
got older I began to see that dividing
got older I began to see that dividing up treats this way was a good way for
up treats this way was a good way for
up treats this way was a good way for food but equality was actually a very
food but equality was actually a very
food but equality was actually a very complicated issue that it was a good
complicated issue that it was a good
complicated issue that it was a good start but not enough my mother’s lessons
start but not enough my mother’s lessons
start but not enough my mother’s lessons was also about empathy the ability to
was also about empathy the ability to
was also about empathy the ability to see the perspectives of others growing
see the perspectives of others growing
see the perspectives of others growing up in a house with two sisters there was
up in a house with two sisters there was
up in a house with two sisters there was always some kind of commotion in the
always some kind of commotion in the
always some kind of commotion in the house whenever we fought or wronged each
house whenever we fought or wronged each
house whenever we fought or wronged each other
other
other my mother will call us over have a sit
my mother will call us over have a sit
my mother will call us over have a sit down and she will look as all three of
down and she will look as all three of
down and she will look as all three of us hear our stories and she would say
us hear our stories and she would say
us hear our stories and she would say walk near deals on cable day whoa the
walk near deals on cable day whoa the
walk near deals on cable day whoa the ideal Csonka veil there if you are in
ideal Csonka veil there if you are in
ideal Csonka veil there if you are in that person shoes will you’ll be happy
that person shoes will you’ll be happy
that person shoes will you’ll be happy with that outcome
with that outcome
with that outcome my mother’s lesson of lessons about
my mother’s lesson of lessons about
my mother’s lesson of lessons about empathy helped me understand why that
empathy helped me understand why that
empathy helped me understand why that high school teachers remarks were
high school teachers remarks were
high school teachers remarks were totally mistaken see well that’s high
totally mistaken see well that’s high
totally mistaken see well that’s high school teacher lacked was knowledge
school teacher lacked was knowledge
school teacher lacked was knowledge about my family and our history she
about my family and our history she
about my family and our history she didn’t know the sacrifices my parents
didn’t know the sacrifices my parents
didn’t know the sacrifices my parents had made in Ghana and in the u.s. to
had made in Ghana and in the u.s. to
had made in Ghana and in the u.s. to meet our most basic needs my father was
meet our most basic needs my father was
meet our most basic needs my father was the custodian a bellhop and a dishwasher
the custodian a bellhop and a dishwasher
the custodian a bellhop and a dishwasher my mother was a meat slicer at a grocery
my mother was a meat slicer at a grocery
my mother was a meat slicer at a grocery store and she was a cashier at a
store and she was a cashier at a
store and she was a cashier at a sandwich shop there were anything but
sandwich shop there were anything but
sandwich shop there were anything but disengaged but she’s stereotyped them
disengaged but she’s stereotyped them
disengaged but she’s stereotyped them often as a teacher I get stereotyped
often as a teacher I get stereotyped
often as a teacher I get stereotyped sometimes parents and visitors will walk
sometimes parents and visitors will walk
sometimes parents and visitors will walk in my classroom and walk past me and
in my classroom and walk past me and
in my classroom and walk past me and walk straight to my white teaching
walk straight to my white teaching
walk straight to my white teaching assistant assuming that she’s the
assistant assuming that she’s the
assistant assuming that she’s the teacher Carson your minds there’s no way
teacher Carson your minds there’s no way
teacher Carson your minds there’s no way that I a black woman could be the
that I a black woman could be the
that I a black woman could be the teacher when they realized that I’m the
teacher when they realized that I’m the
teacher when they realized that I’m the teacher
teacher
teacher i’m often drilled on my credentials
i’m often drilled on my credentials
i’m often drilled on my credentials these conversations start with so how
these conversations start with so how
these conversations start with so how long have you been teaching – where did
long have you been teaching – where did
long have you been teaching – where did you go to school when I say UVA they say
you go to school when I say UVA they say
you go to school when I say UVA they say oh ah when a bachelor’s and I add and a
oh ah when a bachelor’s and I add and a
oh ah when a bachelor’s and I add and a master’s some even push a bit further
master’s some even push a bit further
master’s some even push a bit further and say I sense an accents form and I
and say I sense an accents form and I
and say I sense an accents form and I sense an accent where are you from and
sense an accent where are you from and
sense an accent where are you from and I’ll say Ghana and they’ll say oh wow
I’ll say Ghana and they’ll say oh wow
I’ll say Ghana and they’ll say oh wow you speak very good English to be from
you speak very good English to be from
you speak very good English to be from Africa or you’re very articulate through
Africa or you’re very articulate through
Africa or you’re very articulate through all all these stereotypes and
all all these stereotypes and
all all these stereotypes and microaggressions I continue to hear my
microaggressions I continue to hear my
microaggressions I continue to hear my mother’s voice telling me to persevere
mother’s voice telling me to persevere
mother’s voice telling me to persevere and because of this I continue to
and because of this I continue to
and because of this I continue to advocate for all families and children
advocate for all families and children
advocate for all families and children especially the ones who resent
especially the ones who resent
especially the ones who resent immigrants in the u.s. here are some
immigrants in the u.s. here are some
immigrants in the u.s. here are some things I do to support my family’s home
things I do to support my family’s home
things I do to support my family’s home visits work wanders pairs of teachers
visits work wanders pairs of teachers
visits work wanders pairs of teachers visit the homes of students and we
visit the homes of students and we
visit the homes of students and we listen to families share the aspirations
listen to families share the aspirations
listen to families share the aspirations for your children we share about our
for your children we share about our
for your children we share about our personal and professional backgrounds
personal and professional backgrounds
personal and professional backgrounds and sometimes we begin to form goals for
and sometimes we begin to form goals for
and sometimes we begin to form goals for students these home visits
students these home visits
students these home visits serve as a springboard to invite
serve as a springboard to invite
serve as a springboard to invite families into my classroom
families into my classroom
families into my classroom once a month parents come in to
once a month parents come in to
once a month parents come in to celebrate their children’s growth I also
celebrate their children’s growth I also
celebrate their children’s growth I also hold student-led conferences and with
hold student-led conferences and with
hold student-led conferences and with these conferences students sit at the
these conferences students sit at the
these conferences students sit at the head of the table and I said next to the
head of the table and I said next to the
head of the table and I said next to the parents and this subtle shift in our
parents and this subtle shift in our
parents and this subtle shift in our seat and reinforces my idea that parents
seat and reinforces my idea that parents
seat and reinforces my idea that parents and teachers should be seen as partners
and teachers should be seen as partners
and teachers should be seen as partners on Fridays I have my students draw and
on Fridays I have my students draw and
on Fridays I have my students draw and write letters home and share with your
write letters home and share with your
write letters home and share with your families what you’re doing and they
families what you’re doing and they
families what you’re doing and they bring it back on Mondays during our
bring it back on Mondays during our
bring it back on Mondays during our morning meetings to share with your
morning meetings to share with your
morning meetings to share with your classmates and for students who learn
classmates and for students who learn
classmates and for students who learn about each other and finally when
about each other and finally when
about each other and finally when parents want to volunteer in my class I
parents want to volunteer in my class I
parents want to volunteer in my class I do not limit them to times that work for
do not limit them to times that work for
do not limit them to times that work for me rather allow them to pick times that
me rather allow them to pick times that
me rather allow them to pick times that work for them because I want them to
work for them because I want them to
work for them because I want them to understand that your voices matter and
understand that your voices matter and
understand that your voices matter and that they can make a contribution to my
that they can make a contribution to my
that they can make a contribution to my classroom I have colleagues who address
classroom I have colleagues who address
classroom I have colleagues who address biases in your classroom as well one
biases in your classroom as well one
biases in your classroom as well one fourth grade teacher noticed that in the
fourth grade teacher noticed that in the
fourth grade teacher noticed that in the fourth grade science SLO all the
fourth grade science SLO all the
fourth grade science SLO all the inventors that were listed we’re white
inventors that were listed we’re white
inventors that were listed we’re white men nestled well stated Benjamin
men nestled well stated Benjamin
men nestled well stated Benjamin Franklin Michael Faraday and Thomas
Franklin Michael Faraday and Thomas
Franklin Michael Faraday and Thomas Edison made important contributions to
Edison made important contributions to
Edison made important contributions to electricity which is true but she also
electricity which is true but she also
electricity which is true but she also knew about the story of the story of an
knew about the story of the story of an
knew about the story of the story of an african-american man Lewis Latimer and
african-american man Lewis Latimer and
african-american man Lewis Latimer and how his patented carbon filament made
how his patented carbon filament made
how his patented carbon filament made the incandescent light bulb more
the incandescent light bulb more
the incandescent light bulb more practical and affordable for the average
practical and affordable for the average
practical and affordable for the average household she shared us with her
household she shared us with her
household she shared us with her students and together they wrote a
students and together they wrote a
students and together they wrote a letter to the library and accent for
letter to the library and accent for
letter to the library and accent for more books on inventors of color see
more books on inventors of color see
more books on inventors of color see what that teacher did was reshaped the
what that teacher did was reshaped the
what that teacher did was reshaped the standards in the curriculum and what it
standards in the curriculum and what it
standards in the curriculum and what it did for her student was that it expanded
did for her student was that it expanded
did for her student was that it expanded their understanding of who inventors
their understanding of who inventors
their understanding of who inventors could be and she taught them how to take
could be and she taught them how to take
could be and she taught them how to take social action by writing that letter
social action by writing that letter
social action by writing that letter after the events of August 12 in
after the events of August 12 in
after the events of August 12 in Charlottesville
Charlottesville
Charlottesville a nother teacher noticed that her kids
a nother teacher noticed that her kids
a nother teacher noticed that her kids playing at recess but playing tag but
playing at recess but playing tag but
playing at recess but playing tag but this time it was different the students
this time it was different the students
this time it was different the students were saying the KKK has come in to get
were saying the KKK has come in to get
were saying the KKK has come in to get you this teacher knew
you this teacher knew
you this teacher knew how to do something about it and had to
how to do something about it and had to
how to do something about it and had to be done now when her kids were still
be done now when her kids were still
be done now when her kids were still young she had a discussion in class
young she had a discussion in class
young she had a discussion in class about identity and differences one boy
about identity and differences one boy
about identity and differences one boy said well if I think I’m better than
said well if I think I’m better than
said well if I think I’m better than somebody in my head and I don’t share
somebody in my head and I don’t share
somebody in my head and I don’t share with anyone then I’m not hurting anyone
with anyone then I’m not hurting anyone
with anyone then I’m not hurting anyone this teacher knew the duck could be a
this teacher knew the duck could be a
this teacher knew the duck could be a little problematic so she addressed it
little problematic so she addressed it
little problematic so she addressed it she read Julius Lester’s book on let’s
she read Julius Lester’s book on let’s
she read Julius Lester’s book on let’s talk about race and had an open
talk about race and had an open
talk about race and had an open conversation with her students about
conversation with her students about
conversation with her students about differences and that it was okay to be
differences and that it was okay to be
differences and that it was okay to be different but we have to remember that
different but we have to remember that
different but we have to remember that just being different doesn’t mean that
just being different doesn’t mean that
just being different doesn’t mean that you’re better than one person is better
you’re better than one person is better
you’re better than one person is better than the other and I invite family’s
than the other and I invite family’s
than the other and I invite family’s into my classroom
into my classroom
into my classroom it helps me address my biases and the
it helps me address my biases and the
it helps me address my biases and the stereotypes and I may have four families
stereotypes and I may have four families
stereotypes and I may have four families because I get to learn about who they
because I get to learn about who they
because I get to learn about who they are and learn how they can contribute to
are and learn how they can contribute to
are and learn how they can contribute to my classroom community my mother
my classroom community my mother
my classroom community my mother addressed stereotypes on our behalf and
addressed stereotypes on our behalf and
addressed stereotypes on our behalf and as I leave the stage I want to share
as I leave the stage I want to share
as I leave the stage I want to share with you that my font my grandfather at
with you that my font my grandfather at
with you that my font my grandfather at the end of his life he realized his
the end of his life he realized his
the end of his life he realized his mistaken bias my mother said he never
mistaken bias my mother said he never
mistaken bias my mother said he never outright came out to apologize when he
outright came out to apologize when he
outright came out to apologize when he was sick she took care of him and he
was sick she took care of him and he
was sick she took care of him and he said you know if I knew you were gonna
said you know if I knew you were gonna
said you know if I knew you were gonna be the one taking care of me I would
be the one taking care of me I would
be the one taking care of me I would have never stopped you from becoming a
have never stopped you from becoming a
have never stopped you from becoming a nurse
my mother addressed actively addressed
my mother addressed actively addressed stereotypes and biases on our behalf she
changed a narrative for her daughters
changed a narrative for her daughters because of her actions and beliefs and
because of her actions and beliefs and
because of her actions and beliefs and as I teach her I try to implement the
as I teach her I try to implement the
as I teach her I try to implement the lessons you taught me as I leave the
lessons you taught me as I leave the
lessons you taught me as I leave the stage
stage
stage I want you to consider the lessons on
I want you to consider the lessons on
I want you to consider the lessons on empathy and an unfairness I will always
empathy and an unfairness I will always
empathy and an unfairness I will always accept her challenge and I hope you will
accept her challenge and I hope you will
accept her challenge and I hope you will too ma madoski thank you mom and thank
too ma madoski thank you mom and thank
too ma madoski thank you mom and thank you all
”
Be First to Comment