There is a conversation happening among teachers in some places.
The topic is controversial, but only if you think the conversation is intended to censor you. To silence you. To tender you culpable. To question your professional decisions and choices, rather than to elevate and uplift non-white voices.
If you can get beyond your own white fragility or even internalized racism for a moment, then you will see something different. You will realize that like Maya Angelou so wisely said, and I am paraphrasing, ‘When you know better, you do better’.
You do what you can until you get new information that challenges what you previously believed to be true.
Sometimes the dissonance is deafening.
The denial is real.
Some are eager to wave the multicultural banner as long as it’s safe. As long as it doesn’t require too much effort. As long as they don’t have to delve too deeply into their own biases and prejudices. And, we all have them, so there’s no need to pretend.
When some folks are challenged to go deep and examine their own beliefs and practices, they claim censorship and pull out the ‘I’m not a racist’ card”. And that gets old and shallow and keeps the system intact.
Controversy is healthy.
Conversation is important.
But dismantling oppression can’t wait.
Be safe, but be brave.
Cross posted to The Two Writing Teachers March Slice of Life Story Challenge.
Elisa Waingort 
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