When it comes to Black male teachers, the question shouldn’t be, “Do we need to hire more?” We know Black teachers, both men and women, are vital; they are particularly critical to the education of Black and...
One of the main pillars of the Center for Black Educator Development is professional learning, coaching, and mentoring teachers, with an emphasis on early career Black teachers. Teachers are the most important in school factor...
We have just recorded our 30th episode of the 8 Black Hands podcast. Time really flies and it has been an exciting ride. The 30th episode was particularly special because we were at the 49th annual Congressional Black Caucus...

When Black Parents Were the Ones to Go On Strike Against A School District – A Tactic Black Parents Should Exercise Again.
There is always much talk about integration, segregation, and desegregation. There is less talk of the power Black families hold and a blueprint Black parents can use to make demands that create seismic shifts for what they...
The show was going really well. We were in Pittsburgh, taping a live 8 Black Hands podcast episode at the State of Black Learning Conference, and we were just wrapping up the Q&A. Then, a White woman stood up and...

Philly Hero, Gloria Ladson-Billings, Talks About How Race, Class, & Privilege Plays Out In Our Schools & Classrooms
Gloria Ladson-Billings remembers that there was a difference between the black and white teachers she had growing up in Philadelphia. African-American teachers could give the students “the talk,” she recalls, referring to...

The Center for Black Educator Development: Freedom Schools & Freedom Summer – A Way to Address Inequity In Our Schools
All that is good and accomplished in the world takes work. Everything else is jive. -Haki Madhubuti We launched the Center for Black Educator Development (CBED) to humbly and courageously address local and national needs:...
I saw a post for “Philly Teachers for Trump and initially just shook my head in dismay. Many of these teachers had classrooms full of students that identified as Black, Latinx, immigrant, Muslims, etc. But, I...
Dear White Teachers of My Black Children: I am a Black mom. I know it’s sometimes hard to decide whether to say Black or African-American. I used to identify as African-American because I loved hearing the reference...
The experience of having a conscious Black principal who demonstrates socio-political solidarity with Black and Brown communities can have a profound effect on the careers of Black teachers. Gemayel Hazard writes in...