In writing this message it's been difficult to get my thoughts together in a way that makes sense because this doesn't make sense.
So, I began by typing "school to prison pipeline" in Google and 1,880,000 results populated. Let that sink in. 1,880,000 results. With those results 'related' or 'suggested' searches were: black, latino, youth, incarceration, disciplinary, deportation pipeline, money, and white privilege.
The fact that in a search like this it can be SO clear as to how much overt and implicit racism exists in our country, in our schools, for our children and students, is unfathomable.
The percent of individuals with dyslexia is the same across races. Dyslexia is a neurological difference, not a racial difference. According to the US Census Bureau about 13% of the United States is made up of Black individuals, and as we know, about 20% of individuals have dyslexia. So, it would make sense that in prisons about 13% of individuals were Black and of those people about 20% of them have dyslexia.
You keep reading and find out that about 60% of individuals in prisons are Black and about 40% of them have dyslexia or some other learning difference.
I hope you're as infuriated as I am.
Some deny treating Black boys differently than their White counterparts. If you fall into that category, I challenge you to challenge yourself and assess that denial. If our Black and Brown students were truly getting the same quality resources, time commitment, and effort put into their education as their White peers, we would be seeing about 20% of incarcerated Black individuals with dyslexia or other learning differences, not double that.
Some blame home situations or children's environments they are emerged in. Students are at school for about 55% of their waking hours. So, over half of the environment they are engaged with is school. Students who are receiving racially charged overt or implicit biases at school are being affected by those biases; thereby effecting their self-image and belief in themselves and their ability to be successful.
As educators we have a job to educate all students equally; to create and implement all IEP's equally; and to be role models and upstanding citizens for our students.
So, what can we do to change, to become better, to TRULY treat students equally?
1) Educate ourselves on Anti-Racism.
2) Pay attention to our own thoughts/actions and whether there are racial undertones to them AND analyze and address them to change our thoughts/actions.
3) Watch documentaries/films that will help us better understand
4) Have difficult conversations with family/friends/students; conversations and a societal shift in perspective is what will lead to real change.
5) Ask questions, listen, be open to learning.
6) Donate to organizations that work with Black and Brown youth, that provide support for struggling families, that work toward protecting Black and Brown neighborhoods.
These are just starting points! There's so much to do.
We linked in some resources above to help you get started. If you have more you'd like to share with us, please email us at wicd@wicd.org. If you have interest in being featured on our podcast in talking about the intersectionality between race and learning differences, please reach out to us at wicd@wicd.org.