Issue 52: Waves
Noun. Something that swells and dies away; a rolling or undulatory movement or one of a series of such movements passing along a surface or through the air
Photo Description: Waves are crashing against rocks. A building is visible in the background of the photo. This picture was taken by the author from the Cape Coast Castle in Ghana.
Check-In:
At first, this issue was called “grief” but it quickly moved to “rage” because I was going to embrace that ‘angry Black woman’ persona to the hilt. Then I moved to “America” because “This is America” by Childish Gambino has been running through my head every day for the past two weeks because although disappointed, the results of the presidential election are not surprising. Author Audre Lorde wrote, “The United States is on the wrong side of every freedom struggle on Earth.” What makes this year any different?
Waves.
The last two weeks have been a swelling and dying down of emotions. However, the sounds of water crashing against the shore are soothing to me. Something about the known and expected pattern calms me and oftentimes lulls me to sleep.
What can we do with our current wave?
Teachers and principals are managing the waves of children all day. There are classrooms full of students who are individually celebrating or anxious or have a myriad of other emotions.
School boards, like the Chicago Board of Education, are mitigating some of those waves. They passed a resolution reaffirming its commitment to protect students of various immigration statuses, gender identities, and sexual orientation following the presidential election.
I’m managing my waves by reading documents and articles hypothesizing about what is ahead in education while protecting my peace. I only consume writing that I can digest on my own pace. I haven’t watched live TV since the Summer Olympics. I turned it on at 6pm on Election Night. I turned it off at 11pm Election Night and it has stayed off.
How are you managing your waves?
#mondaymotivation:
I am so tired of waiting,
Aren’t you,
For the world to become good
And beautiful and kind?
Let us take a knife
And cut the world in two –
And see what worms are eating
At the rind.
-Tired by Langston Hughes
Interview with a Leader of the Global Majority:
Malcolm* is the Chief Equity Officer for a small-sized district in North Carolina. He has been in the role for over two years. The comments below are Malcolm’s and do not reflect the opinions of his school system. Another excerpt from this interview can be found in Issue 30-Truth Telling
Mary: "Can you share your perspective on how state policy changes have impacted your work?"
Malcolm: "Absolutely. The landscape is shifting rapidly, particularly regarding how we address equity and inclusion in our schools. I’ve had to adjust my language and approach significantly as new state policies take hold. For example, looking at states like Texas, where certain trainings are now optional, I see North Carolina heading in a similar direction. This has made us reconsider how to frame the work so it continues, even if it must adapt superficially to avoid attacks."
Mary: "How have these shifts affected your professional identity?"
Malcolm: "It’s a tough balance. A superintendent once suggested I change my title to avoid backlash since having 'equity' in my title draws attacks. That suggestion weighed heavily, as it shows the extent to which the work can be targeted. But for me, the focus is always on serving our historically resilient students—not just surviving attacks but thriving despite them."
Mary: "With these challenges, what motivates you to keep pushing forward?"
Malcolm: "It comes down to a belief in the power of community and collective resilience. I’m the father of three Black children, so this isn’t abstract for me—it’s about their future too. Professionally, I believe we’re smarter and stronger together. We have to support one another to counter the oppressive systems we face. That’s the only way to move forward."
Please let me know if you would like to be interviewed and/or recommend someone to be profiled in this section. I need new interviews!
What I’m Reading, Watching, and Listening To:
READING: Science fiction writer Octavia Butler had an amazing ability to predict the future. I first read Parable of the Sower during the pandemic and have been going through her catalog since. I needed to read this article by Butler from 2000 edition of Essence Magazine. She talks about predictions and why it is important for not only our imaginations but for our future. 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.
LISTENING TO: In the Movement Memos Podcast, host Kelly Hayes connects with activists, journalists, and others on the front lines to break down what’s happening in various struggles and what listeners can do to help.
WATCHING: Sprint, Session Two is out on Netflix. For 2 weeks in July, we were united as a country. Sports can do what seems like the impossible. The Olympics, particularly the track events, bring me joy and inspiration—two things I need a lot of right now.
How to Continue to Support Leading-Within:
Go to Amazon and rate or review the book there! Reviews are a great way for others to see that this book is worth the time to read.
Post about the book on social media using the hashtag #leadingwithin. Even better if it includes a picture of you WITH the book!
Host a book club with your affinity/ERG group. Two study guides are also available on the ASCD website - one for leaders of color and one for white co-conspirators that are perfect for starting a group conversation. For book clubs with participants who have purchased and committed to reading the book, please reach out to me so I can support your journey!
Connect with me to speak to your organization or group about topics covered in the book, like ‘practicing love and rage’, ‘building a coalition’, and ‘taking a stand’.
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!
Mary,
Thank for sharing this. I have been alternating between that sense of anger and fear of what is next since the election. Interestingly, I, have also cut out the news and have found that walking on the beach or in the woods is something that has been helping me process the emotions. It has been a time of connecting with others who are angry, afraid, and frustrated, too.
I am worried about what is next and feel this is somewhat a "calm before the storm" moment. I agree it was not surprising, but any time hope for something better is crushed like a bug, I think people struggle to find their footing and figure out what next? I obviously cannot speak to the experience of being Black or living in a red state, but even as an ally, Langston Hughes' poem echoes in my mind and resonates in my heart. Thanks for a great post.