A right hand in a fist raised against a white background. Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash
Check-In:
‘You speak so well.”
“You’re so articulate.”
As I heard one of the most influential researchers on leadership use these phrases to describe one of his Black students all I could think about was “did I just hear what I thought I heard?” As if putting together a sentence with a subject and verb is surprising coming from a graduate-level Black student attending a competitive university.
I was then taken back to my own experiences hearing these aggressions from adults throughout my K12 experience through to the present. The math teacher who said I shouldn’t expect to be good at math since I’m Black and female. My teaching staff when I was a principal wanted me to show more emotion so I can embody their perception of the angry Black woman.
The word of this issue is fight. TaraShaun, like me, had to fight to redefine the angry black women and black superwoman troupe. So many of the essays in the book Fighting the Good Fight speak to the fight African American principals experience from the moment they show any interest in the role, and the application process. Then managing to stay in the role while being advocates for the students and communities they serve.
This is why we have to tell our own story. Do our own research. Redefine leadership for us.
#mondaymotivation: “First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.” – Mahatma Gandhi
Interview with Leader of the Global Majority:
TaraShaun Cain served as an assistant principal and principal in Chicago Public Schools for ten years. She’s currently the Executive Director of the Black Principals Network at Surge Institute.
Mary: What challenges did you face as a Black female principal?
TaraShaun: I would say that one of the challenges we face period as black women is our passion being mistaken for being an angry black woman. And when they need you, you're the strong black woman. So, what that looks like is that we're not allowed to be human. You're overcompensating, you're trying to rewrite the narrative so much that sometimes you can lose parts of yourself.
TaraShaun: The other challenge is just being human myself. Having to lead through Covid- none of this they taught me in school or in my leadership classes. I'm a mom. I've lost people too but you're expected to be there 24/7.
Mary: How did you find a way to navigate the angry black woman trope and bring your true self to the leadership role?
TaraShaun: One of the things for me was- if it's not good enough for your kid at home, then it's not good enough for the kids we serve.
TaraShaun: I also didn’t do the hierarchy thing; you can't do the hierarchy thing. Student voice was pivotal to building the culture and community approach to leadership. I did surveys with my kids about what kind of school they wanted and why. Then whenever I made a decision, it was based on the results we got in this survey and I'm very transparent about what data is used.
TaraShaun: I also model that we are all a part of the success. I picked up trash walking down the hallway. This is our community. This is what we do and I would find kids doing that as well. I worked the security desk. I've subbed in classes. I've done lunch and recess. I've made lunch. I've done all that and it shows you that we are all a part of this community. And that's a big part of culture building.
You can hear more from TaraShaun when “Leading Within Systems of Inequity in Education: A Liberation Guide for Leaders of Color” is published in April 2023. Let me know if you would like to be interviewed and/or recommend someone to be profiled in this section.
What I’m Reading: Fighting the Good Fight: Narratives of the African American Principalship by Isaac C. Carrier and Aaron J. Griffen.
About the authors: Isaac C. Carrier and Aaron J. Griffen are scholar-practitioners who have served in many leadership roles in districts.
Book Audience: For any aspiring and sitting African American principal to know they are not alone. For school districts specifically principal supervisors to be inspired to hire more African American principals and understand the conditions needed for them to thrive in the role for the long-term.
Book Overview: The book is a compilation of essays written by African American principals with at least 3 years of experience sharing their experiences and advice. The book is broken into four themes:
Section 1: Journey to the Principalship
Chapter 4: In Dancing Despite the Distractions, Andrea D. Cain, Ph.D. talks about all the times she was told her pursuit of being a teacher then principal wasn’t supported by white administrators, but she continued in pursuit of her dreams.
Section 2: Adverse African American Experiences
Chapter 18: In White Tears and Black Fears: The Price Paid by African American Principals, Raphael Crawford, Ed.D. shares the physical, mental, and social toll that he has experienced as someone who is African American and unyielding in ensuring his school community received the resources and support afforded to them.
Section 3: Social Justice and Equity
Chapter 20: In The Battle Within, J.H. Flowers discusses her journey from perfectionism and self-doubt to self-growth and liberation.
Section 4: Successes of the Principalship
Chapter 33: Positive Impacts of Community Organizing and Coalition-Building Networks as an African American Principal by Pamela L. Gray, Ed.D. discusses how involving her school in Austin, TX in a community-based coalition helped bring the voices of stakeholders together to support the interests of students.
Other Highlights:
The essays that spoke to me were the ones that were personal. The essays talked about childhoods, reflections, aha moments, etc. However, there are many other articles that are concrete and provide helpful tips on the nuts and bolts of the role.
The essays are very short and would be great case studies to be integrated into a course or professional learning experience for aspiring and/or sitting principals
Next Book: The Sum of Us by Heather McGhee. You can find a full list of my book recommendations here.
Resources:
In this Harvard Business Review article, Lessons on Leadership and Community from 25 Leaders of Color, authors Darren Isom, Cora Daniels, and Britt Savage discuss the leadership attributes heard in their interviews. Attributes include- self-awareness, comfort with discomfort, empathy, observation, active listening, collaboration, asset-based lens, and radical imagination.
In this article from 74million.org Gathering Better Data on Latino Students Is Key to Truly Meeting Their Needs author Wendy Castillo explains how collecting data using an overarching description like “Hispanic” or “Latino” is flawed and leads to many not receiving the services and support necessary. She ends the article by giving several concrete suggestions on ways schools and the federal government can collect more helpful data.
Wait! One Last Thing!
I’m running the NYC Marathon on Sunday, November 7th, and raising money for the New York Urban League (NYUL). NYUL has been supporting Black New Yorkers for 100 years and it continues to support through advocacy, employment, and education services. It will host its annual HBCU College Fair on Saturday, November 12th at Riverbank State Park which is one of my favorite events. Any donation for my fundraiser is greatly appreciated!
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!