We need to ask tough education questions in broad daylight

Earlier this year, I asked on my socials if Dr. Yvonne Stokes, former HSE superintendent who resigned, would be able to balance leading INABSE (Indiana Association of Black School Educators) and GCSC (Gary Community School Corporation).

Some Black folks who only came across my post after it was screenshotted and shared with them, tried to come for me claiming I was attacking a Black woman in broad daylight for no reason.

First, it wasn’t an attack.

Second, I ask education related questions almost daily.

Third, people who tend to get mad about my questions tend to be people who don’t regularly follow me.

People who follow me consistently know I have literally written hundreds of education articles since about 2016. I pose questions for people to tune in and pay attention to education.

Here are a few articles with my name on the byline that you should read before continuing.

‘3 hours for 3 minutes’: Gary residents plead with DUAB for transparency about Gary Community School Corporation – https://indykidswinning.com/…/3-hours-for-3-minutes…/

Dr. Yvonne Stokes resigns from HSE Schools – https://indykidswinning.com/…/dr-yvonne-stokes-resigns…/

National Alliance of Black School Educators launches Indiana affiliate – https://indykidswinning.com/…/national-alliance-of…/

Was It Worth It? Evaluating the Impact of Indiana’s Takeover of Gary Schools. – https://gary.capitalbnews.org/gary-school-takeover/

Former Perry Township superintendent appointed superintendent of HSE – https://indykidswinning.com/…/former-perry-township…/

GCSC was taken over by the state. Stokes is the first superintendent after the district take over. Typically, I write about Indy or general education issues that aren’t state specific. Last year, a Gary radio station host got my contact information and asked if I would go to the DUAB meeting in downtown Indy to meet people from Gary who drove to each only get three minutes at the microphone to speak about what was still wrong in Gary and concerns they hoped would be addressed when exiting the takeover.

I took video and wrote the article above. That article caught the eye of Capital B, a publication focused on everything Black. They were in the process of launching Capital B Gary. Because it was launching they needed help with a story. I, along with Indy Kids Winning writer Andrew Pillow, helped write that article. If you freeze the video below, you’ll see my name on that article which is the first article included in the video where Dr. Stokes is singing a Christian song while walking through GCSC.

Back to that in a moment. Additionally, I learned from my cousin and one of my mentors that NABSE was coming back to Indiana. Previously, there were only city affiliates in Indiana, not a statewide affiliate. This time, it returned as a state affiliate. I decided to write about it. After Stokes asked around about me, she agreed to an interview. I wrote an article about it which was well received. I was contacted by a lot of folks happy about the return of NABSE to Indiana.

Let’s go back to the beginning where I asked if managing both (INABSE & GCSC) was feasible. I asked because I had written about both. The first Gary article I wrote resulted in me losing six hours the day I went to the government center in downtown Indy to listen and interview folks. That doesn’t even include the research done outside of those interviews to write the article.

For the Capital B article, my family had legit concerns about the time away from them. I finished my contribution while in Atlanta on an education learning trip while being pretty sick after I was accidentally served gluten. Not everything I wanted included was included but that is just how editing goes.

I have multiple hours of audio and combed through tons of documents and read about the history of Gary back to its founding all the way to present day. I talked to people on all sides of the GCSC takeover status, takeover ending, and the charter school movement there. Don’t get me started about the folks who lied when interviewed. Yes, you always fact check but I guess some people assumed that because I am from Indy I would not do my due diligence.

Now, that you know that I’ve put in the work to ask questions and even if I didn’t I could still ask them

What is going on in this YouTube video????

It’s giving big Ava Coleman from Abbott Elementary vibes.

When you watch the video, study each child’s face.

I wonder how this video contributes to them leaving GCSC being proficient in literacy, math, science, & history.

Also, separation of church and state?????

With Trump returning to office, I believe we actually will see more blurred lines and Oklahoma might be used as the blueprint. <sigh>

In education, we have to focus on what matters most. Does GCSC have lots to do to restore its image? Yes. Is this how you do it? No.

I wonder what all the Gary folks I interviewed think of this video.

Last, I will leave you with the words of Ally Henny from her book I Won’t Shut Up: Finding Your Voice When the World Tries to Silence You.

“A frustrating aspect of white supremacy is that Black people not only have to deal with the white supremacy inflicted on us by white people, but we must also continue with other Black folks’ internalized, white supremacy, and anti-Blackness. Respectability politics is one of the main ways that white supremacy shows up when we are amongst ourselves. Respectability politics is the belief that people from minority groups will experience less oppression if they behave in ways that is pleasing to the dominant group which usually means attempting to imitate the dominant group’s ways… it tells us that our worth is determined by our level of education, our ability to speak with ‘good diction,’ our appearance, and even our ability to avoid being ‘loud.’ The fear of harm from white people is real and respectability politics is a misguided and maladaptive attempt to stay the hand of white supremacy…. While these ideas may have served some of our ancestors’ clear and present need for survival, they have done very little for the long-term flourishing of the Black community.”

In other words, I’m loud and won’t conform. However, avoiding discussing education issues in broad daylight doesn’t help us. Our silence allows harm and oppression to continue. The hand that helps delivers the harm isn’t always white.