We Only See the Worst of Us in Each Other

Today the Nation celebrates Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the Civil Rights Leader whose leadership and courage showed the world that we can be our best selves together in harmony and peace. He saw the power in each of us seeing the best within ourselves and each other. 

But we don't want to see the best of us in each other. 

The media portrays the smaller % of Black Americans doing crimes or being violent than the larger % of us who are educated and productive citizens. This is a consistent pattern our media. The media portrays white citizens much differently by design. 

Outside of the media, we have to be realistic about how this looks in our everyday lives as well. I saw a quote recently on Facebook of a Black father saying we need to stop thinking our children don't experience racism in school daily when we experience it everyday at work. 

Education is one of the most powerful tools we have in dismantling racism which is systemic. Dr. King saw that it’s not just the simple knowledge of reading, writing and arithmetic. We must empower our children to expand their minds through learning beyond high school. Our children can’t continue tearing down the walls of oppression if they aren’t educated about them. 

Dr. King had the courage to call racism out and for what it is. 

We have to call racism too. Especially our white counterparts in education who are advocating alongside us in the movement for fair, free and equitable schools for all children. We need white teachers and parents standing for changing too! If we aren’t calling out racism in educational institutions, then we can’ t begin to call it out in other parts of our society.  

But it's not just calling racism out or challenging the system about it's unjust practices and policies. It's not even enough to have people of color in top positions in the educational system. We need to change the current system by building our own independent system. Challenging the status quo in education is best down through innovation. That's the real hate that school choice receives. It's the hatred from those who still want to see Black and brown children in America opposed through education. 

We must have the courage to change racism by dealing with it head on and involving everyone in the process. We as a Black community must reach the masses and reinforce to the willing the importance of education in their freedom, independence and wealth. 

In order for us to change the perception of Black and Brown people in America, we must first change the perception within ourselves.