Dear Black Educators

Dear Black Educators, 

I wanted to hold the space for more people at this time.  I recognize many of us hold multiple identities.  However, a lot of times we see people shy away from saying Black, and at this moment, I know saying Black and acknowledging Black matters.  I encourage others to write letters to their community.  For me, this is a moment to embrace my Black educators without apology. 

Black educators- WHEW.  I am tired. I know you are too.  It is election night.  We have gone through a pandemic where we are disproportionately impacted.  We are in the middle of a movement that feels new to others but has existed for us and our ancestors since the beginning.  Some of you are risking your life for a job that demands you that you pay for your own supplies. We are being asked to do more, commit more, serve more.  We are… we exist and we are trying to survive.

No matter what happens tonight, we are always on the front lines.  I want to say, that is not fair.  I am tired, you are tired. WE DESERVE MORE.  There are times I want to exit the fight and watch tv for the remainder of my days. But I don’t, like many of you. We always take the call because we always think, “they aren’t going to get it right…” or “so, no one else is going to do this… alright…” 

Isn’t that what it always comes down to? 

We don’t always want to be excellent.  Sometimes we want to exist. 

Some of us want to go to work on-time and leave on-time.  Take nothing home.  Sleep 7-8 or heaven forbid 9 hours.  Not have to live with the stakes, be the one to turn to, put on the cape.  We want the care-free existence of our peers. 

For me, I do not always want to dispense my Black Girl Magic.  A lot of times, I just want people to chill, for me to feel I can chill, for everyone to GET IT RIGHT. 

Yet… we are Black educators. We are Black educators AND we know no matter what our students look to us to guide them, nurture them, fight for them, protect them. We look into their eyes and know we will inevitably do whatever we can for them in whatever capacity to ensure they can meet the potential inside them.  We do our best. 

We are smart enough to know we are not “saving” our students, we know we are helping them on their path/journey.  We know our students are the heroes of their stories, we get to guide them along the way, give them the resources they need, or even tell them in their darkest moment, “I understand.”   We know holding the space and understanding what they are going through can be enough. Allowing them to exist without burden or judgment can be enough. To let themselves express themselves freely with support is enough.

I am tired. We are tired.  We deserve more.  Our students deserve more. This election will not resolve all of our issues.  No matter what, we will probably still have to show up and be the “heroes” and be told, “you are so brave” even though we don’t always want to be brave. We wonder why it always feels like it comes down to us. We will be there because we always are.  We have to find a better way to serve our students WHILE serving ourselves.  We deserve a better way.

They will tell us to practice self-care.  I do not know if we have figured that out yet. I also know that self-care journey and we do not have to be there overnight. I do know our students and communities deserve our best but we also deserve our best.  So if you can, if you can find a way, take care of you tonight, tomorrow, and the next couple of days, for a lifetime.  Whatever you can give to others is a bonus.

It is okay not to be okay, it is okay for your students to see you are human, it is okay for all of us, students and teachers, to learn how to deal with this together.

You matter.  I know the world may tell you that mattering is “too political,” the world is afraid of what will happen if we recognize we do, in fact, matter.  We still matter, without validation or apology.

I am writing this to tell you, we are here.  We have your back.  We love you and support you.  In this world, the Black educator can feel lonely and isolated.  In my world and others, you exist and are supported.  I am writing this to you now, I am writing this to myself at this moment. 

We are here, we exist, we will be here, we will continue to exist, we matter, and we will always matter.  We are planting the seeds of the future- we are harvesting and nurturing the next generation.  We deserve to be harvested and nurtured as well.  We deserve better, we will fight for better, and we will overcome whatever obstacles come our way.  We shouldn’t have to do that, but we will do that, because we always do.

I do not know or care what the next chapter is in this election saga.  I care more about all of you, in this moment and ensuring you know, you have my support and love.  

I have your back, I hope you have mine. Thank you for merely existing.

We still rise.  We still rise.  We still rise. 

Love, 

Jenn