What Is Your Why?
"Because my ancestors were stripped of the right to be educated, it's my purpose to educate."
"I teach so that I can be an agent of change, either the flint that sparks the fire or the tinder that keeps the flame going."
"I have learned so much from my students through my teaching experiences and through the relationships I've built with them."
"I decided I had to commit myself to social justice. I was called to teach truth. I had to answer."
Read more answers from Black teachers here
"Because my ancestors were stripped of the right to be educated, it's my purpose to educate."
"I teach so that I can be an agent of change, either the flint that sparks the fire or the tinder that keeps the flame going."
"I have learned so much from my students through my teaching experiences and through the relationships I've built with them."
"I decided I had to commit myself to social justice. I was called to teach truth. I had to answer."
Read more answers from Black teachers here
We asked Black teachers around the country “Why do you teach?” and folks told us! People are talking a lot about diversity and excellence within the teaching profession. We want to represent Black-centered perspectives. Thank you to everyone who answered our question. Recent research confirms something that we have seen in many classrooms: all students benefit from having a Black teacher in their lives. The Black Teacher Project invites you to celebrate Black teachers as you read through blackteachermagic.com. We can’t wait to share our community’s proudest moments, transformative experiences and turning points that serve as their guides for becoming teachers.
Every Black teacher has a story to tell that reveals their own #Blackteachermagic, so for February 2017, this site will be publishing short essays by Black teachers sharing their motivations, hopes and challenges in their own words. The collected pieces serve as a chance to listen to the voices of Black teachers as they offer unique perspectives and reflections on what keeps them in the classroom.
Every Black teacher has a story to tell that reveals their own #Blackteachermagic, so for February 2017, this site will be publishing short essays by Black teachers sharing their motivations, hopes and challenges in their own words. The collected pieces serve as a chance to listen to the voices of Black teachers as they offer unique perspectives and reflections on what keeps them in the classroom.
Why Black Teacher Magic?
At a recent meeting of the Black Teacher Project Oakland Book Study Group, author and educator Zaretta Hammond was leading a discussion about culturally responsive teaching. One of the highlights pointed to the qualities Black teachers bring to their practice, emphasizing soul and spirit. The gifts that Black teachers offer are not simply strategies; they go beyond a set of buzzwords that can be implemented. Instead, the empathy and vulnerability that Black teachers embody, in concert with culturally responsive teaching, push students in the direction of excellence. Research bears this out--Black teachers have higher expectations for Black students, who thereby perform better, and white students benefit from Black teachers by having a role model to form an affinity with. And all students prefer Black and Hispanic teachers—and with that sense of connection, Black teachers can take all students further down the road of learning.
Are you a Black teacher who wants to contribute your story of why you teach? You can submit it below or on Twitter using the hashtag #Blackteachermagic and tagging @blackteacherpro.