Over the years, I have written ten books and about fifty articles and blog posts for educators. This is by far the shortest, but probably the most important piece that I have ever written.
Black men comprise between 1.2 to 1.3% of the total teaching force across North America! I will consider this to be a national emergency for Black children in general; Black boys in particular.
With almost 70% of Black children growing up without their fathers in their homes (and frequently out of their lives) and then going to school and in most cases having never been exposed to a Black male teacher or administrator, the question becomes, where is the Black man who is “holding his hand” and walking him through the process (and maze) of becoming a man?
The unfortunate reality is that far too many Black boys are deprived of the experience of a strong, positive Black man in their lives to help them navigate their journey and the consequences to this reality are all around us.
Resultantly, these 21 REASONS WHY BLACK MEN SHOULD CONSIDER TEACHING AS A CAREER OPTION serve as my clarion call to Black men that there are a plethora of Black children in general and Black boys in particular who need you!
Yes, I understand the challenges of entering the profession, getting hired, low salaries, unfair treatment, etc., but none of the aforementioned take away from the reality that BLACK MEN ARE NEEDED IN AMERICA’S SCHOOLS.
To that end, here are my top 21 reasons why.
- Teaching provides an opportunity for Black men to enter the ranks of the most important and influential profession on the planet.
- Teaching provides an opportunity for Black men to make a significant difference in the lives of Black children.
- Teaching provides an opportunity for Black men to have access to countless numbers of Black children over the years and decades.
- Teaching provides an opportunity for Black men to be positive role models for Black children.
- Teaching provides an opportunity for Black men to be examples of manhood for Black boys.
- Teaching provides an opportunity for Black men to become teachers of manhood for Black boys.
- Teaching provides an opportunity for Black men to be a presence in the lives of Black boys that they can relate to and identify with.
- Teaching provides an opportunity for Black men to teach and demonstrate leadership for Black children.
- Teaching provides an opportunity for Black men to be mentors of Black children.
- Teaching provides an opportunity for Black men to engage Black children in constructive, thought-provoking and empowering conversations.
- Teaching provides an opportunity for Black men to fill voids in the lives of so many Black children.
- Teaching provides an opportunity for Black men to be an alternative to the negative and destructive Black male images that so many Black children often see portrayed in the media and in some cases, in their own communities.
- Teaching provides an opportunity for Black men to have a “birds eye view” of the current problems, issues and concerns that exist within the schools of Black children.
- Teaching provides an opportunity for Black men to monitor the current problems, issues and concerns that exist within the schools of Black children.
- Teaching provides an opportunity for Black men to positively impact the current problems, issues and concerns that exist within the schools of Black children.
- Teaching provides an opportunity for Black men to establish a Black male presence in a school which can prove to be beneficial for the entire school community.
- Teaching provides an opportunity for Black men to make a difference in the communities of the children they teach.
- Teaching provides an opportunity for Black men to use the classroom as a vehicle to infuse Black history (in an interdisciplinary fashion) and social justice issues for the children.
- Teaching provides an opportunity for Black men to bring their unique qualities, strengths, talents and ideas to non-Black children as well.
- Teaching provides an opportunity for Black men to serve as examples for other aspiring Black male teachers.
- Teaching provides an opportunity for Black men to advance into leadership / administrative positions.
I would dare say that I could have created a list of 50 reasons, but I didn’t want my list to get too lengthy. If you are a Black man and you feel you have much to offer to the children, I hope you will take these 21 reasons to heart. Ponder over them for as long as you need.
Whatever it takes.
On the other hand, if you are not a Black man but you have Black men in your life or you are connected to Black men on social media, forward this list to them. This blog post might just be what one of them has been waiting for to “make that move” into the classroom.
Lastly, if you are a Black man and you are already in the classroom but contemplating leaving for whatever reason, I wrote this list with you in mind as well with the hope that you will return to your initial “why” toward reigniting your “fire.”
Note – I also made a You Tube video of my “21 Reasons.” Click the link to view.
This was originally published on Principal Kafele’s blog page. For further information, order Principal Kafele’s books, Motivating Black Males to Achieve in School and in Life, Closing the Attitude Gap: How to Fire Up Your Students to Strive for Success, and The Teacher 50: Critical Questions for Inspiring Classroom Excellence @ principalkafele.com or wherever education books are sold.
