Issue 21: Division
Noun. Disagreement between two or more groups, typically producing tension or hostility.
A picture of a forked road taken during a morning run on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii. To the left is a sand and gravel road. To the right is an asphalt paved road. There are three aqua-blue signs pointing in different directions in the middle.
Check-In:
My book purposefully highlights the stories and experiences of cultures and ethnicities beyond my own. I could have written a book focused solely on the experience of Black leaders in education. There are enough current and historical stories of Black people to easily fill a book. However, I wanted to highlight communities within the larger umbrella of leaders of the global majority- Asian, Latine, and Native American as well. Why? Because historically, as much as white dominant culture has tried to separate minoritized communities and pin us against each other, we have always worked together in our individual fights for liberation. Especially today, young people are connecting across cultures and ethnicities in their community organizing. I wanted to lift up the cross-cultural connections and coalition-building as an example for us to use in our school systems.
In late May, Florida became the sixth state to require the teaching of Asian-American and Pacific Islander history. This is a result of several years of grassroots efforts of an organization called, Make Us Visible. This should be celebrated. I know I have personally dived into learning about the current and historical contexts of the AAPI community because I never learned about it in school. And although Florida also has an African-American history course, it is the same state that stated College Board’s African-American Studies Course lacked academic value. White dominant culture has again pinned communities against each other.
In Solidarity Economics: Why Mutuality and Movements Matter by Manuel Pastor and Chris Benner highlight why a powerful few want to continue to amplify division and individualism. In my interview with Nancy, she highlights the challenge when there isn’t community and your work is individual.
White dominant culture will continue to work overtime to separate us. Anti-Blackness. Model-minority. The question is how are we working together to counter it?
How is division impacting you and your community?
#mondaymotivation: If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. -West African proverb
Interview with a Leader of the Global Majority:
Nancy* is the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Strategist for a medium-sized district in Texas. She has been in the role for over two years. The comments below are Nancy’s and do not reflect the opinions of her school system.
Mary: What challenges do you face as a Black female system-level leader in a space dominated by whiteness?
Nancy: The biggest challenge I continue to face is the ability to move the commitment to racial equity beyond the surface level. All leaders say, and I think they fully believe, that all students should have opportunities and access for a rigorous and supportive educational experience, yet I am not so sure they are fully prepared to take the stance that is needed to address the issues. They are still plagued by their own internal belief systems/upbringing/biases and the potential misalignment with the direction in which they know the district should go. There may be fear of backlash that stymies them as well.
Nancy: Needless to say, this hesitancy can place folks like me in an awkward position. Either I become the lone African American woman who is championing the work (loud and proud) or I become the leader of the new millennium underground railroad by quietly addressing the issues under the radar. Neither is ideal or desired. I think this becomes part of the challenge when the chief equity voice isn’t that of the superintendent.
Nancy: In terms of my intersectionality (African American female), I constantly reflect on how I am portrayed in the work. I know that this work cannot succeed with a single voice, and I also know how the “system” can stereotype people like me.
You can read more from Nancy in “Leading Within Systems of Inequity in Education: A Liberation Guide for Leaders of Color”. Let me know if you would like to be interviewed and/or recommend someone to be profiled in this section.
What I’m Reading: Solidarity Economics: Why Mutuality and Movements Matter by Manuel Pastor and Chris Benner
About the author(s): Manuel Pastor and Chris Benner are professors of sociology who have both been active members of social movements.
Book Audience: Anyone interested in learning about how coalitions can be used for economic prosperity
Book Overview:
Reading a book about economics was at first intimidating but I had an opportunity to hear Professor Manuel Pastor speak at the EdLoc conference and recognized his work was tightly aligned to what I have been talking and writing about just from a different lens. Our current economy is based on the idea that people are selfish and this individualism and desire for power is what drives our economy. Unfortunately, this approach has created inequities in all parts of our society including education.
Pastor and Benner introduce the concept of solidarity economics through 3 premises:
1. It is our economy, a result of relationships and power
2. We do better when we work and act together
3. Social movements are crucial
Solidarity economics reminds us that we are hard-wired to care, but that we are operating in a system designed to strip us of that virtue and so it is the system that must change to let out our better selves (p.65).
The next chapters talk about how our economy can be reimagined by thinking about solidarity in connection with -prosperity, innovation, social support, the planet, and social change.
The book makes many connections to The Sum of Us by Heather McGhee which I summarized in Issue 6: Community. I walked away after reading this book feeling affirmed that this individualist approach to liberation only is successful for a few even when it’s masked as a movement.
Next Book: Unearthing Joy: A Guide to Culturally and Historically Responsive Curriculum and Instruction by Gholdy Muhammad. You can find a full list of my book recommendations here. Please note that I am an affiliate with Bookshop.org and receive a small compensation for your purchase when you use the book links provided.
Resources:
My latest article: Taking a Stand as a Leader of Color: When it comes to supporting students, neutrality isn’t an option.
June is LGBTQ+ Pride Month. This Anti-Racism Daily article offers concrete ways how to honor the month.
Discover the importance of trust, systems change, and trauma-informed practices to support Black women in the workplace. Creating Psychological Safety for Black Women at Your Company
Upcoming Events:
Let’s Talk EdEquity
This Thursday, June 7th at 2pm EST join Tanji Reed-Marshall, Dwayne Chism, and myself to discuss the intersections of literacy, equity, and leadership. You can RSVP here.
Austin Area Book Talk
On Thursday, June 15th at 5 pm CST join a conversation between myself and Dr. Angela Ward. The conversation will be moderated by Dr. Liz Garcia. The event will be held at the Round Rock Public Library. You can RSVP here.
If this is your first time reading, please go back and read my Introductions post.
Thanks for reading! Let me know what you think. If you like it, please share it with your network!