Teaching at the Intersections

 By Monita K. Bell (click name to read article)

"For Torres, helping students like Nicole navigate the world—and the way the world responds to them—is fundamental to her responsibility as an educator"....she says "When we stop seeing our kids as whole people—as whole, nuanced people, with context to gender and race and class—we stop seeing them as real people.”
This holds so much truth and weight for me, as an educator myself. Having this power in my own classroom comes at a high price, and reminds me of that timeless Voltaire saying "with great power, comes great responsibility." One of our main goals should always be to value, empower and strengthen the identities of the students who arrive in our classrooms. Without this deep appreciation for diverse minds, we do a disservice to their educational journey, and limit their capacity for growth mindsets, self-worth, creative contributions, and social-emotional intelligence as they enter society. Throughout the years, I felt that I had innately understood the presumption of "intersectionality" for many students on my roster, but never truly gave a title to this concept before, or thought about the impact I could potentially be making in my own teaching to address it (or NOT address it). 

I couldn't believe it when reading the details of the 2016 lawsuit filed by the 16-year-old transgender boy, who had to face such oppression just to use a restroom he felt comfortable in!! It blows my mind that these events still occur even within the last 3-4 years, and this "stigma" is still happening. How it is almost still taboo to talk about, directly relating to the "colorblindness" that Blacks deal with in the culture??? If we choose to look away from the problem, because it does not involve us, then ultimately we BECOME the problem, perpetuating the patterns to continue. 

I have been reading this incredible book called Love Your Enemies by Arthur C. Brooks that discusses another type of culture we see currently in political America - the culture of contempt. It has connected fiercely with so many of the articles we have been reading in this class, especially this culminating final article that integrates all identities and marginalized groups to truly grasp a wide perspective of what others (who are different from us) may go through. I find that those with misinformed/uneducated opinions and arguments, who may even begin to infringe on the safety and respect for another, struggle greatly to  reframe their mind to a more diverse discourse that allows for multiple opinions and background knowledge. When reading the assigned article, I just kept remembering the website it was on - Teaching TOLERANCE, which in itself is a powerful word. It does not mean you have to change your opinion, nor do you have to end relationships with others who do not see things the same way you do. It means quite the opposite....that being granted the freedom to share and appreciate having differing beliefs and life experiences is what America is founded on. We could all take a page from Deepak Chopra and consciously practice gratitude, equality and love for all groups of people. This course has expanded my own awareness in so many way of how I am a part of this culture of power and privilege, and how my experiences and mindset are highly indicative of my practice and whether or not I subconsciously perpetuate the problem. But with my eyes wide open, I firmly believe that just like in the Ally youtube video, our impact and actions, however small they may seem, can make tremendous shifts in the status quo, and help to obliterate the injustices, fear, and contempt, for the sake of inclusion and love. Love wins. Love always wins. 

So upon researching the topic of intersectionality even more, I had come across another NY Times article (I do love their stuff!) that discusses how it influences those in the workplace...I had to share, since it is extremely well written. I especially love the concept of the "emotional tax" paid by POC:

The Effect of Intersectionality in the Workplace