Speak Spanish? You don’t look “Mexican.”
Kristiane Valenza, Vicksburg, MS. After moving to rural Mississippi from New York to teach Spanish at the high school level, I’m frequently met with confusion...
Self segregation in classrooms baffles me!
Sandy Yarrington, Wayne State, St. Clair Shores, MI I am always amazed at how far we have come, but I am frustrated at how far...
Homogeneity is boring, limiting and damaging.
Bobbi Siegelbaum Bronx, NY I found my political voice and activism as a 10th grader in 1961, in my Social Studies class during a lesson...
My skin is my greatest teacher
Eric Miyeni Johannesburg I don’t like the phrase “body part” much. At its worst it has a tendency to remind me of murders and psychotic...
Education is the key to change
Autumn Segrest, Highland Heights, KY. As a white woman from suburban America, it can be hard to understand the struggles of the countless people who...
Teaching History to White Graduate Students
Collette M. Bloom, Houston, TX. It is a wondrous and wonderful experience to see the “AHA” moment appear on White students faces when they finally...
I like a mix of people.
Maureen McConnell, Inverness, FL. Since I taught in Boston public schools 30 years ago, my view of the racial landscape has forever changed. Since then,...
Challenging the knowledge has no age
Hugo Santos, Auburn, AL. I am a literature professor in Brazil and after completing 40 years of age, I’ve decided to come to United States...
What’s it like never being responsible?
Lou Bates, TX. Controversial? Sure. Racist? To many, sure. However, we are all hypocrites when it comes to race, and sadly many of us are...
We are more alike than unalike
Emily Patten, Phoenix, AZ. I grew up in a city with a substantial lack of racial diversity, yet my parents and teachers were able to...
Mexican but dont Speak Spanish, thats ok
Monique Martinez, Riverside, CA. I am half Mexican and half Filipino but everyone always thinks I am full Mexican. When they find out I am...
Teaching hope in spite of racism.
Joyce Corley, Montrose, CO. As an educator, I witnessed the results of racism that targeted the most vulnerable people in our society.
Shamed for being who I am
Avery, Los Angeles, CA. All throughout my life I’ve felt many challenges that come along with my race. All throughout elementary school, when I was...
I am scared for my children
Jamie, Wylie, TX. I live in a society that I am afraid of the world that my kids will have to be adults in. We...
We ALL are brown.
Christine von Lersner, Santa Fe, NM. I am a German-American mother of a Chinese daughter and an African American son, and I’m a teacher. Early...
Prejudice is taught; let’s unteach it.
Karen W. Gronau, Perry Hall, MD. I taught elementary school for four decades. I saw a good change over the years. My classes became more...
