We’ve Never Seen a Public School System Work for All Kids, But We Have to Believe We Can Build One

The other day I watched the documentary True Justice: Bryan Stevenson’s Fight for Equality. 

Now if you don’t know who Bryan Stevenson is, you should check him out. I see him as our modern day Thurgood Marshall for his relentless efforts to disrupt injustice and inequality in the legal system.

This documentary was the bittersweet icing on the cake of a deeply reflective, emotional and powerful trip I’d taken to the Legacy Museum and National Memorial for Peace and Justice that was founded by Stevenson’s organization, the Equal Justice Initiative. 

In exploring enslavement and its correlation to mass incarceration, Bryan hit on some points about America’s history of racism manifesting itself in the present, false and deflective narratives being used to overshadow the brutality and mistreatment of Black people, and how despite all of this, we have to believe in change. I found that these highlights also rang true for America’s history in educating Black people—and all of these points paint a picture of injustice, inequality and uphill battles for freedom.

We Are Haunted in America by Our History of Racial Inequality

via GIPHY

This point about being haunted about our history is the realest talk!

Let’s be clear, America has never wanted Black kids to be educated. Just like Slave Codes made it illegal for enslaved Africans to learn how to read and write, practices in today’s public education system reek of discrimination and inequality and make it difficult for Black kids to get a good education.

Many Black kids are trapped in underperforming schools. 

Jim Crow era laws have inspired people to create their own segregated school districts. 

And for a country that preaches equality, why is it that kids in impoverished communities of color get less per pupil funding, lack access to high-quality teachers, rigorous classes and student support resources and programs?

I can go on with a number of infractions but the point is, history is repeating itself.

We Have to Pay Attention to the Narrative Battle 

Listen, you cannot tell me that all lawmakers and teachers unions have the best interest of Black students and families in mind. Because instead of having a larger conversation about how to give Black kids the education they need and deserve, people are fighting to limit their options and access to quality schools. 

Like in California, there’s been an ongoing fight against legislation that would limit the power and growth of charter schools but barely a whisper about how 68% of their Black students fail to meet ELA requirements.

People are calling for more accountability of charter schools when traditional public schools have been allowed to fly under the radar for years. I mean, don’t we want accountability for all schools?

Bottom line, these anti-choice pundits have been able to masterfully distract people from the real issue of the school system failing Black people. The problem isn’t charter schools, it’s this country’s unwillingness to really invest in our kids’ education.

Towards the end of the documentary, Bryan was reflecting on lessons he’d learned from his grandmother who was the daughter of enslaved people. He said:

“I think if my grandmother gave me anything, she gave me the confidence to believe things I haven’t seen.”

This quote really struck home for me. This is where the hope has to outweigh the outrage.

We’ve never seen a public school system that works for all kids but we have to believe we can build one.

That’s why it’s critical that students, families and advocates keep fighting for reforms. We need parents like Christina Laster. We need advocacy organizations like The Oakland Reach and The Memphis Lift. We need the BME Alliance because we know that our kids need more Black educators. We need the Margaret Fortunes who open schools that serve our communities. And we need networks like Education Leaders of Color that prepare and elevate us to become future leaders. 

To sum it all up, Bryan hit the nail on the head with this:

“I don’t think we can get free until we can tell the truth about our history. Truth and reconciliation are important.”

We have to face our ugly history and its influence on the present. We have to heal and move forward with equality as a priority. Because if we don’t, liberty for all will continue to be a falsehood and generations of Black people will continue to suffer.