Journal of a Black Teacher

By Don Allen, M.A. Ed./MAT  “ As a matter of self-preservation, a man needs good friends or ardent enemies, for the former instruct him and the latter take him to task. ”   ~Diogenes Laertius, (c. 404—323 B.C.E.) Lives of Eminent Philosophers, Book 6, Chapter 35. He “Diogenes of Sinop, (Turkey)-School of Cynicism ”, is labeled mad for acting against convention, but Diogenes points out that it is the conventions which lack reason citing that most people, he would say, are so nearly mad that a finger makes all the difference. “For if you go along with your middle finger stretched out, someone will think you mad, but, if it’s the little finger, he will not think so” (Diogenes Laertius).  Logic and common sense scare many good natured foundational folks in education. When you look at challenges in our public educational system, it’s even more scary to see the actions of good natured people that have generationally ignored best practices outside of their own cultures and just simply put, b

By LaTricea Adams (pictured below) When I recently opened  the 2021 Young, Gifted, & Green 40 Under 40 Awards ceremony,  I was reminded of the passion, hope, and hard work from young Black and Brown activists who drive the environmental justice movement. The event featured speeches from EPA Administrator Michael Regan and Dr. Mustafa Santiago Ali, both of whom are environmental justice champions in their own right, and their recognition of new Black, Latinx, and Indigenous voices on the environmental justice scene spoke volumes. I’m proud of the grassroots movement we launched following the examples of our ancestors, the early stewards of this land, and embracing the activism of our environmental justice elders. This month as we mark the 30th anniversary of adopting the  17 principles of environmental justice , we vow to continue not only to fight climate change but to usher in a more just world by doing so.   Climate change affects us all, but its effects aren’t distributed equall