Black boys discipline records tend to be longer than their academic achievements and this must change. Teachers complain about discipline with their Black boys often. The U.S. Dept of Ed and Schott Foundation Reports that 59% of Black boys and 42% of Hispanic boys report being suspended. Discipline infractures range from talking in class to physical alternations. All of this is on…
Are We Really Banning Our Black Boys With Dreadlocks From School?
Black boys should not be banned from schools for having dreadlocks. Many wear dreadlocks for cultural, religious or spiritual reasons. They are discriminated against because of their hair in schools by leaders, teachers and peers. A high school in Kentucky had school leaders who felt like dreadlocks impact appearance and academics. Imagine being a Black boy and told you have to…
Black Fathers and Sons Reading Is the New Norm in Atlanta!
Black boys in Atlanta are reading more because of literacy-based programs like Real Dads Read. I wrote about the organization that runs it, Fathers Incorporated, back in October. Real Dads Read has since grown now having 71 libraries/learning centers in barber shops and schools around metro Atlanta. The initiative has distributed more than 5000 books helping to ensure Black fathers and…
It Takes City Council Leaders Like Ivory Young To Advocate for Children
“If we are developing communities without keeping children and seniors in mind, then we’re doing a great disservice to our citizens!” Words spoken by Councilman Ivory Young of District 3 in Atlanta about five years ago. It was his advocacy and attention to children and seniors that connected us. Ivory Lee Young Jr. was the District 3 representative on the Atlanta City Council…
This Black Male Teacher Wants to Move Struggling Students to Successful Mathematicians
Adrian Douglas is a teacher in Metro Atlanta. He is advocating for students who are struggling readers to get more support in his class. He is only $1,162 dollars away from his fundraising goal. I’m featuring his project to support our work as Black male educators to close the achievement gap for children struggling in public schools. This year, my…
Dads Are Making It Cool for Black Boys to Read Books in the Barbershop
Fathers Incorporated is committed to making high school graduation a reality for Black boys in Metro Atlanta communities. Their initiative is both innovative and full of swag—perfectly designed to reach Black boys. Currently their Real Dads Read initiative has 27 libraries in barbershops around the city of Atlanta. Due to the success of this initiative in bridging the gap between…
Thanksgiving for Karlton Is Every Day He’s Able to Go to School
There are so many children and families who depend on the school lunch programs to survive. We truly overlook the impact homelessness has on school aged children. Our school nutrition program workers don’t overlook nor do they overlook our homeless children. As a school leader l learned that the cafeteria staff members are our schools’ unsung heroes. Many don’t look…