🧵
Let me tell you how BPS works to maintain white supremacy. Buckle up. Story time.
1/
Let me tell you how BPS works to maintain white supremacy. Buckle up. Story time.
1/
In 2005 at the ripe age of 29, I was hired to be the principal of the Media Communications Technology HS in what was formerly West Roxbury High. An overwhelming percentage of the faculty were white veteran teachers. The students were overwhelmingly students of color.
2/
2/
I had only a few vacancies and was determined to hire qualified teachers of color. Because representation matters.
One white veteran teacher was unlicensed and had been given licensure waivers for about 6 years. I chose not to hire him back and instead…
3/
One white veteran teacher was unlicensed and had been given licensure waivers for about 6 years. I chose not to hire him back and instead…
3/
… I hired a Black Haitian teacher who was licensed, had experience teaching the same population, and was a graduate of West Rox High. Oh, we had a Haitian SEI program at the time. He spoke Haitian Creole.
4/
4/
The unlicensed teacher I didn’t hire was an older white man. Who knew city councilors. Who called a certain Chief Operating Officer. (Who is currently co-chairing a certain exam school admissions task force.) Who called me.
5/
5/
I’m 29 years old. Actually I think by that time I turned 30. I’d never been called on the phone by such a high ranking official other than when the Supt offered me the job. I’m a little anxious. He asks me what happened with that particular position.
6/
6/
I explain it. He’s quiet. He says ok. He will call me back.
He calls me back.
7/
He calls me back.
7/
He explains to me that he is going to give me an extra position out of the central office budget and that I will take the unlicensed teacher for one year. If he doesn’t get his license I am free to cut him after that year.
8/
8/
I’m not gonna say no. He is giving me an extra teacher for free. That means smaller classes and more classes. It would be foolish to say no.
9/
9/
But now I see. I didn’t then but I would fight it now. This is how white supremacy is maintained. It’s back door conversations, city councilors throwing their weight around, middle (white) men gate keeping - deciding what goes through and what doesn’t, moving money around.
10/
10/
This is the dirty work of maintaining white supremacy. It is gross. It is constant. It is insidious. And it plays out every day. Quietly. Sometimes loudly. But continuously.
11/
11/
It happens in code. “We don’t want to send the wrong message.” Worrying about white flight. Fearing backlash. Fearing a mess.
At some point, things need to change.
12/
At some point, things need to change.
12/
I watched this play out this week on the exam school task force and realized, this is the same person. How many times has this happened? How many times has progress been stopped? Or slowed? Or thwarted?
How many times have we settled for “good enough?”
13/
How many times have we settled for “good enough?”
13/
And who suffers each time? Who has to wait each time?
Who is appeased? Who stays comfortable?
It is horrifying to see how systemic oppression, white supremacy, statistics that everyone wrings their hands over… all get maintained. One move, one conversation at a time.
14/
Who is appeased? Who stays comfortable?
It is horrifying to see how systemic oppression, white supremacy, statistics that everyone wrings their hands over… all get maintained. One move, one conversation at a time.
14/
It has to stop. Progress can happen like this, but only incrementally. And true justice will never happen.
15/15
15/15
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
