Category: Rachel
White Saviorism… and How to Avoid it
I’ve had glitter bottles in my classroom as long as I’ve had a classroom, but this year – after much expertise gleaned from years of practice – my bottles were so particularly beautiful that my students talked me into selling them. (Here’s a shameless plug […]
Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing: Sneaky, Not-So-Anti-Racism
Resources that sound progressive and anti-racist might be white supremacy in disguise, so anti-racist educators need to be careful. Here are some red flags to pay attention to.
Villainizing the term “Woke”
Have you ever said a word over and over and over and noticed how quickly it loses its meaning? If not, try it – just pick the closest object on your left, and repeat the word thirty or forty times and pay attention to how […]
Is “Systemic Racism” Real?
“When the architects of our great republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as […]
Panic Attack
Today, I saw my husband have a panic attack. On our way home from the gym, we decided to check an errand off our list with a trip to the ATM. We needed to bop home for Dido’s wallet, but luckily it was on the […]
Black History Month: Reflections and Recommendations
I’m sorry this post is delayed – February 2020 felt rather normal, but by March, the world was falling apart and the truth is that I lost a lot of my drive to write. However, with the recent incidents bringing racism into the forefront again […]
Reflections on Resolutions: Getting Fit
For New Years, I think it’s important to reflect because – for the first time ever! – I actually achieved two of my resolutions. This post will be about the first. I made working out a part of my life. My husband of ten years […]
Horror Movie Marathon
I found myself with a lonely day: my roommates were tired, my husband traveling, Stephanie already back at school. I embraced this – after a weekend cruise that involved crowds, a cramped cabin, and constant stimulation, a day to chill was welcome. So I googled: […]
Writing Contest: Three… two…. one….!
So, my bestie, Steph, talked me into participating in a writing contest, which I hadn’t done since college. It was a fun endeavor, though, more like improv comedy than short-story writing. The premise is simple: on a designated Friday night, you receive a prompt that […]
Part 3: White Fragility in The Hate U Give: The White Ally
In contrast to Hailey, whose white fragility worsens throughout the book, Starr’s boyfriend, Chris, is provides a dynamic look at the “white ally.” He comes from a wealthy family, goes to a private school, but he’s enamored with black culture and dates one of the […]