From a young age, I realized there weren’t too many people in the media that looked like me. So, I had to hold on to the representation I had, even if that character or experience was unlike me. 

Black teachers are the real-life representation Black students need. 

I’ve only had one Black educator in my life: a counselor at my elementary school. She was as supportive and kind as the other teachers in school so why was my experience with other teachers who weren’t Black different?

When I got older, I finally grasped the reason why: having a teacher that looked like me in an educational setting was something that shaped me by showing me that I was capable of being Black and successful. 

I believe all people of color deserve the same experience. 

One key resource that would help any student reach their full potential is having someone in their life who believes in them full-heartedly. But in reality, some Black students do not have that luxury. 

Systemic racism is a form of racism embedded in-laws and regulations in society. This is shown when we look at the education systems of predominantly black schools and the living condition of communities with high populations of Black people.   

Many predominantly Black schools were and still are highly underfunded, this beginning before segregation was deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. 

This caused many predominantly Black schools to hire teachers who were under qualified to teach, not be able to provide textbooks nor have the funds to keep schools safe and students focused. 

In recent years, some students who live in impoverished areas have the privilege of going to predominantly white schools for a better education. But not everyone’s family is supportive, some families will shame their children for trying to get an education or, their families will not provide their children with the support and resources they need to succeed in these schools. This is usually driven by not being able to help their children because of work, a lack of education, or jealousy. 

How do we get more Black people out of these areas and into situations that further improve their education?  The answer is the implementation of Black teachers in all schools. 

According to a 2017 study by the Institute of Labor Economics, Black teachers hold Black students to higher expectations than teachers of other backgrounds and are more culturally sensitive. 

Black youth needs Black teachers now more than ever; they are growing up in a time where we see police brutality more frequently. Having black teachers in schools will give these students what they need most, hope and support.