“Do not wait until the conditions are perfect to begin. Beginning makes the conditions perfect.” Alan Cohen
I originally started writing this post last Saturday because there was a lot going on. Then, I couldn’t focus because there was a lot going on. The past few days have proven that there will always be a lot going on because so many people either chose to vote for 47, an opportunistic 3rd Party candidate who appears every 4 years to dupe folks out of their money, or they simply stayed home on November 5, 2024. And now, here we all are…in this mess. More people will be affected by the decisions of the ignorant, racist, sexist, ageist, homophobic, and transphobic people who chose this for everyone.
Nevertheless, I am determined to carve out some joy in any and all ways that I can. That is why I am going to write again. It took me some time (too long) to figure out why I couldn’t bring myself to write anymore. Other than teaching full-time and working a part-time job, there is very little time left to write during the school year. For the past few years, I have only been able to read, attend professional development, and tinker with some passion projects during the Summer vacation.
I am also keenly aware that colleagues and district personnel are watching my activity on social media. A more appropriate use of their time would be monitoring social media accounts of teachers who post and share content containing every ‘ism’ under the sun before the students (and teachers) in marginalized groups find them. But, I digress.
Since I completed the minor blog redesign, I had no additional excuses to delay writing. After seeing the ‘do it now’ message in several places, I acceptd that the time is now. The attacks on Black History, Black accomplishments, books written by Black authors about Black people, the celebration of the end of slavery in Texas, and so forth, motivated me to start digging for the things that are not, nor have ever been, published in K-12 textbooks. See, this ban is not new; it is just vocal and more overt. The few events typically included in school curricula are those that demonstrate the ‘other side’ of struggle, violence, trauma, demonstrations, sit-ins, boycotts, etc. Essentially, only those things that make white America comfortable.
Comfort begets complicity begets erasure begets…things this country has already done to every marginalized group. If I am uncomfortable at work, while driving, anywhere-else-I-go, then everyone can endure a little discomfort.
Other than showing up to teach Math to 7th graders, the next best thing I can do is to not forget about myself.
Not me, the Teacher.
Me, the person so intrigued about History that I earned a degree in the subject.
There is so much more to me and my journey to becoming a Teacher. My Black family’s History in this state goes back to the early 1900s. There are millions of Black people who came before us and contributed to present-day Indiana.
It is well past time to share the Stories Untold about Black Hoosiers.
This new period of writing focuses on uncovering forgotten people and obscure facts buried in faded records.
I hope you stick around and learn something new alongside me
