Read on Twitter
This is one of the most important things I've learned to do as a classroom teacher.
Especially as someone whose identity is so different than the other teachers my students' have had.
So much to teach/learn here about boundaries, confidence, grace, self worth, and curiosity. https://twitter.com/Jess5th/status/1305973791101784064
Especially as someone whose identity is so different than the other teachers my students' have had.
So much to teach/learn here about boundaries, confidence, grace, self worth, and curiosity. https://twitter.com/Jess5th/status/1305973791101784064
As they're learning this, students (see also: humans) will definitely get it wrong and cross lines with their questions. But that is just an opportunity to model stating/upholding boundaries.
The hard thing for me was that I often found these intrusive questions hilarious.
The hard thing for me was that I often found these intrusive questions hilarious.
Sometimes my students have come at me absolutely 
sideways and I have gasped or burst out lauging.
These are not stories for twitter, but catch me in these streets and I will give you a good laugh.
A good story for twitter is the time a student asked me if I was Black
sideways and I have gasped or burst out lauging.These are not stories for twitter, but catch me in these streets and I will give you a good laugh.
A good story for twitter is the time a student asked me if I was Black
It was the year Trevor Noah hit the scene and he had this whole bit about becoming Black when he moved to America.
The idea that someone could BECOME Black or that race was culturally bound/constructed blew this kid's mind.
The idea that someone could BECOME Black or that race was culturally bound/constructed blew this kid's mind.
I was minding my business after class and he (white boy) came by to chat.
After some niceties he asked me "Miss, do you consider yourself Black?"
I was like
After some niceties he asked me "Miss, do you consider yourself Black?"
I was like
He presented his thinking:
1) Trevor Noah bit taught him race was connected to culture (my summary of his words)
2) Ms. Abdulkadir, like Trevor Noah, was African
3) Ms. A was the same complexion as Trevor Noah (though not mixed race)
4) did Ms. Abdulkadir consider herself Black?
1) Trevor Noah bit taught him race was connected to culture (my summary of his words)
2) Ms. Abdulkadir, like Trevor Noah, was African
3) Ms. A was the same complexion as Trevor Noah (though not mixed race)
4) did Ms. Abdulkadir consider herself Black?
I was caught off guard at the end of a long day thinking about math - I wasn't ready for a conversation about race as a social construct & the politics of colour and shade in Blackness.
He had been thinking about this for at least a day, so he had follow up questions too.
He had been thinking about this for at least a day, so he had follow up questions too.
I told him "Yes, I'm Black and consider myself Black" and asked him how he got to thinking about this.
I don't know what I said after he shared but we left the conversation open and picked it up another day as I was walking around outside doing some kind of supervision duty.
I don't know what I said after he shared but we left the conversation open and picked it up another day as I was walking around outside doing some kind of supervision duty.
THEN we talked about race as a social & cultural construct.
We talked about phenotypic traits and ethnic identity. He asked some questions that might have been inappropriate - I told him if they were or why the assumptions were problematic. But I let him ask and didn't react.
We talked about phenotypic traits and ethnic identity. He asked some questions that might have been inappropriate - I told him if they were or why the assumptions were problematic. But I let him ask and didn't react.
It was messy and unclear, but that was the point I was trying to make - race is messy, unclear and very much human made.
I think that's what many of us are afraid of in these kinds of conversations. They are messy, we don't have answers, we are afraid to say the wrong thing.
I think that's what many of us are afraid of in these kinds of conversations. They are messy, we don't have answers, we are afraid to say the wrong thing.
Which is fair - but not a reason to avoid them. It's a reason to learn.
This was the first kid to really ask me about myself, my culture, my religion, etc, who wasn't part of my community. He was asking me to connect AND ALSO to learn about worlds he wasn't part of.
This was the first kid to really ask me about myself, my culture, my religion, etc, who wasn't part of my community. He was asking me to connect AND ALSO to learn about worlds he wasn't part of.
I just wanted to teach math lol
But he prepared me for years of these kids of conversations to come.
We had tons of good conversations about identity over the years. I watched his curiousity about the world grow, and saw him form meaningful relationships with his peers.
But he prepared me for years of these kids of conversations to come.
We had tons of good conversations about identity over the years. I watched his curiousity about the world grow, and saw him form meaningful relationships with his peers.
It was all very sweet & heartwarming.
All that to say: talk to the kids about your identity and model respectful ways to engage in sensitive conversations!
For racialized/marginalized teachers, these conversations go much better with youth than they do with adults
All that to say: talk to the kids about your identity and model respectful ways to engage in sensitive conversations!
For racialized/marginalized teachers, these conversations go much better with youth than they do with adults
