Written by Latifah Abdullah, North Richmond Farm Community Engagement Manager, and TJ Sykes, Ujima Program Manager
Comfort, acceptance, care, and welcome. This is what adequate representation feels like.
Wherever it is – at school, at work, in your neighborhood, at an event, in life . . . for the most part, when you can relate to someone who looks like you, you feel comfortable, accepted, cared for, and welcome.
This should be a no-brainer in schools. Especially as the Black student population numbers drop, the Black student community needs Black representation in teachers, principals, counselors, and mentors. This should be the norm. For me, it was. For my co-worker, not so much. In today’s public schools…not so much. For decades, our schools have lacked a proportionate number of Black teachers, leading to Black students not feeling represented and ultimately feeling misunderstood.
Many times throughout the years, out of necessity, the Black Community formed groups, boycotts, and protests, and initiated legislation to address inequities. Also, because we were not allowed in certain spaces, we created our own.
In the schools, one such organization that has been instrumental is the Black Student Union (BSU). It was birthed out of the Black Campus Movement. The first BSU was founded in 1966 at San Francisco State.
Why is BSU Important?
- BSU gives Black students and staff a safe space to have conversations among their peers about learning conditions, their present lives, and the future.
- BSU sets the standard for how Black culture should be represented within the school and beyond for students.
Where Should BSU Exist?
We often see BSU at the high school and college levels. But, locally, there was also an example at Verde Elementary School until the contractor who led the body accepted a new position and relocated out of the school. So far, no one has been hired to fill the vacant BSU coordinator position, even though the principal committed to continuing BSU before the position was vacated.
We believe that BSUs are needed in elementary schools. It gives a younger group of youth space to be seen and understood.
Other Support Structures for Black students
Affinity Groups
We saw an example of an affinity group for Black girls at Aspire Richmond Technical Academy (RTA). They meet once a month. This group has proved to be inspirational and culturally relevant. Students are excited to attend; parents are elated that it exists.
Pro-Black Coordinator
We met a Pro-Black Coordinator who also served as an elementary school teacher at RTA. We noted that she initiated Ruby Bridges programming, parent read-ins during Black History Month, facilitated Black family meetings, and assisted with other programming efforts. Though we hadn’t witnessed an intentional position like this in a school setting, we think it’s beneficial for the Black students and the school as a whole.
Black Family Meetings
Initially, when my daughter received a notice for a meeting for Black families, she had one eyebrow raised. (My granddaughter attends RTA.) In attending the meeting, we found this was a monthly meeting established for the families Black scholars.. Families could attend in person or online. The pro-Black coordinator and the Dean of Students (both Black women) conducted the meeting. The meeting asked for feedback from the parents and shared standardized scholastic test results – showing where students started at the beginning of the year and their progress. They also shared upcoming Black History events, the Black Excellence Awards event, opportunities for families to gather for events offsite, and opportunities to volunteer. This structure offered a safe, intentional environment focused on Black families, who were the smallest group in the school.
Homeschooling
Some students never see the inside of a public school. They are homeschooled and then go to a Historically Black College or University.
“Homeschooling is important to me because it empowers children to embrace their authentic selves without external pressures or limitations. It provides them the time and space to explore their passions and develop a deep understanding of what truly inspires them. Most importantly, it offers liberation from institutional systems that were not designed with their success in mind. Through homeschooling, children gain the freedom to learn in ways that honor and celebrate their unique learning styles.” – Community Member
If you’re thinking about homeschooling, here are a couple of links – one is a national resource; the other is from the lens of a homeschooler.
The argument for having our own schools:
While representation in public schools is essential and homeschooling could also be an option, there is also the argument for having our own schools.
In school, there’s a challenge that most people don’t talk about, which is that the teachers identify with a specific culture. However, they are trying to teach a variety of students the same materials that may or may not be culturally relevant.
For those looking for an African-centered school experience in the Bay Area, you may look to a school like Ile Omode School.
At the end of the day, the parent is the first teacher, and the surrounding community is the extended family. It’s essential that we rally around our children and create the representation they deserve.