Empowering every student, embracing all backgrounds.
Darcie S Wallace, West Islip, NY As someone studying to be an elementary school teacher, it is essential that every student in my future classroom...
White people on TV aren’t me.
Paula Trucks-Pape, Wisconsin Rapids, WI. What a fantastic and simple writing prompt, exercise for students, all around thought provoker! Thank you.
I fear for my former students
Bill Damude, Beaufort, SC After 38 years of teaching, I think about my former students and athletes of color and how I fear for them...
Misreading slavery due to modern morals.
Rikki Clark, Milwaukee, WI. I teach African-American literature and folklore at the university level. Often white students will say in class how they would have...
Well How Black Am I Really?
Carnesia, Aurora, CO. As far back as I can remember I’ve always been told by past educators that I am very “well mannered” unlike the...
No way, Miss, you’re not white!
Joan Evans, Lawrencevillve, GA. And I am 100% white. But (far too many of) my students associate “white” with oppression and bigotry. When they tell...
Chicano/Native-American trying to recapture my past
Joseph Velasco, Santa Barbara, CA My brother and I have been a quest for most of our lives to try and understand our family stories...
My students don’t care I’m white.
Chris B, Landenberg, PA. I am white and teach art in an inner city school. I get hugs from children of color every day! I...
I do this for our U.S.A.
Roger Tuomisto, Minneapolis, MN. Time line – 1969. Location – Natchez Ms. Purpose – aid in educating Black Americans of their voting rights and shuttling...
Acceptance, like art, comes in all colors.
Harold Rice, Ann Arbor, MI. On Location: University of Michigan The University of Michigan has the 8th most international students in the country, which causes...
Colorblind bigotry, religion is shunned here
Jo Miller-Frost, Beckley, WV. I have been explicitly informed at work to not discuss my religious background with anyone, but my students, who have never...
Stereotypes are informative but desperately incomplete
Erin Molden, Kettering, OH. Stereotypes are like population genetics. Useful to see large groups but don’t necessarily apply to individuals. I try to help my...
Differences never change but opinions do
Molly W., Denver, CO. I am a 6th grade teacher and my class has been reading Fire From the Rock about the integration of Central...
No, I’m not Hispanic. I’m Arab.
Ian M., Orange County, CA. My mom is an immigrant from the Middle East, my dad was born in Texas, yet my brother and I...
I teach. I build relationships with students.
Sarah Brookner Minneapolis, MN I am a white female. I grew up in a wealthy suburb of Minneapolis. My students are mostly Somali, African American...
