Dear Black Middle Class--Part I

Dear Black Middle Class,

We need to reconsider abandoning our local public schools. 

Whew!  This is a tough topic.  I’ve struggled with this issue ever since I began teaching 11 years ago. I’ve spoken with several other Black families, and “struggle” seems to be the operative word among us.  

A while back, as I was walking outside, I had an epiphany.  The Black middle class can bring to our own community what the White middle class has traditionally brought—capital.

There is research that shows students learn better in racially integrated classrooms, particularly students of color living in poverty.  This integration does not hinder the success of White students, contrary to what some may believe.  According to studies, the positive impact of learning in a racially integrated setting is greatest in the elementary years, and the impact slowly wains as students progress through middle and high school. 

So what is it about these integrated settings that help particularly students of color achieve? Is it the sheer presence of White students? Does seeing successful White families motivate students of color? Maybe.  Research shows, though, that basically it’s really about the capital—financial, cultural, and social—that White families bring.  It’s the parent involvement in the classroom, it’s the strong PTAs, it’s their network, it’s their advocacy, it’s the support of teachers that helps prevent burnout and turnover, it’s the buying of classroom and school supplies, it’s the visibility, etc. 

My epiphany was, now that the Black middle class is stronger, even though we’re leaps and bounds numerically behind the White middle class, we can bring to our own community what the White middle class has traditionally brought.  We can use our voices and positions in society to advocate for policy and systemic changes within schools and across districts.  We can use our presence in the classroom, our financial resources, and our involvement in the PTAs to help our own community improve achievement. How impactful will it be for our youth to see the people who look like them volunteering in the classroom, being community organizers, activists, doctors, lawyers, entrepreneurs, preachers, teachers, etc.?  Sometimes we need to see us operating in these roles to believe that we, too, can be those roles. 

When we leave those schools that are 50% plus students of color, we take our valuable resources with us.  Often times we leave students behind whose parents may not be able to challenge the unfair treatment from teachers and school systems due to transportation or work hours.  Or, those who use their voices and do stand up aren’t always respected or valued.  And then there are issues of school funding.  When we leave, we take funds away from children who are already attending schools where budgets are being cut year after year. And we know that children living in poverty need extra resources to help them be successful.  We should think about the implications of our presence and our absence.

While White families fly away from these types of demographics (White flight), can we afford to do the same (i.e. Black flight)?  Can we afford to abandon our own?  And for what?  A better education?  What does a better education even look like?  And at what cost—both financially and emotionally?  If we do the research, most charters and even some private schools simply represent difference without improvement. See Charter School Achievement: Hype vs. Evidence.

Additionally, some school take the top performing students, creating the illusion of a superior education.  Meanwhile, the traditional public school looks inferior because of the lower test scores and larger population of students living in poverty who need additional resources, which the schools can’t provide because funding has been depleted, and those schools look as if they are failing.  But in actuality, the situation is much more complex.

Le sigh.

Choosing where to send our children is a difficult decision.  I’m not passing judgement on anyone who decides to send their child to the school across town or to the family who moves into the “good school” district.  But just think about the implications.  Think about who we’re leaving behind.  Think about giving the money you allocated for school tuition to a school for children who really need it.  Think about finding other Black families in your area and send your kids together to the school in your neighborhood. And think about the difference your brown face will make to kids who didn’t even know that there were different kinds of success for people like us.  Just think about it.

At the end of the day, we’re all trying to make the best decision for our kids.  And as we sit with this struggle, I would like for us to consider the implications behind our decisions.  Regardless of where we choose to send our babies, know that our involvement is a must.

I wish you much peace as you make your decision of where and how to educate your child.

"Dear Black Middle Class--Part II:  The Fear of Working Class Kids" coming soon …