Schooled: Being a White Educator in Black America

I have spent the past 13 years of my life working in public education for three very different school districts. Each experience has taught me some valuable lessons. I learned the most as a teacher during my eight years in a predominantly black school in a Detroit suburb. Typically, students are supposed to learn from their teachers, but I learned so much being a White educator in Black America.   

Odd Girl Out

I grew up in a White community. The city I was born and raised in is one of the whitest cities in America. My cultural exposure to people who didn’t look like me was very limited. I had friends from different ethnicities, but for the most part, everyone identified as White. When I started my first teaching job at 22, three days out of college, I was in the most diverse environment I had ever seen. The school I was working at was about 50% Black. Some people have a diverse college experience, but not me. I went to small private college where the students were mostly White. Going into education, most of my counterparts during my undergraduate studies were just like me, White females.  

I went from being surrounded by people who looked like me to being surrounded by people who were different. And I loved it. I embraced being a White educator in Black America and I bonded with my students right away. It helped that I was young and easy going, but I also attribute my success in working with Black high school students to my willingness to learn about them and their culture. I would ask questions about their families and how they celebrated holidays — not everyone eats green bean casserole for Thanksgiving! I learned about the music they liked and I could talk about their favorite rappers with them. My ability to forge relationships with these kids that some of my colleagues really struggled with was apparent. Not because they were bad teachers, but just because they were unwilling to change and adapt to the current culture of the school.  

Fairness Over All  

Along with being able to talk to my students about their favorite music and letting them teach me how to “Dougie” (remember that one?), I treat all my students fairly. Black, white, rich, poor. Kids are kids. They deserve to be treated the same, regardless of how they look on the outside or what neighborhood they live in. Holding them to the same expectations, giving them the same consequences and rewards, and above everything, treating them with love and respect, is how I am able to be successful with all different types of students.  

My career has had its fair share of ups and downs. Some years are great, and some are more than challenging. Some of my most trying years were when I was working at a very affluent (predominantly white) district in Oakland County. The kids were great, the staff was welcoming, but something was missing. I didn’t feel like I was making a difference. I knew I could make a greater impact somewhere else. After four years, I went back to my original school district and things had changed since I had been gone. The school went from about 50% Black to around 80%. The community had changed, families had moved in and out and our school was more diverse than ever. I settled back in; teaching, growing, and learning along with my students. 

Being the Change

Although I have had a career change in the last few months, my thoughts are with my former students during this time of change. I hope that I have shown you that I and many other White educators I know are allies and advocates for the Black community. We see you, we hear you, and we love you. Whether you were in my class for one semester or for several years, your life matters. It has always mattered. There have been many things I have learned as a teacher in predominantly Black schools, but most importantly I have learned kindness, respect, and tolerance will conquer over hate and evil.  

Stacy’s success as a White educator in Black America boils down to love and respect for each individual she encounters — and sometimes facing the uncomfortable head on. Have you tuned in for our series Getting Comfortable with the Uncomfortable: Real Talk of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion? Please check it out!