What do public sector Unions say about protect and serve in America? As a Black mom, taxpayer and voter, when I think of the phrase “protect and serve,” I think of law enforcement and the role of government to protect and serve the public – to include children – regardless of race or income level. So it should go without saying, when we the People, we the voter, we the taxpayers, give police officers permission to use force on our…
So, you may be wondering, where is this Connecticut mom going with this blog title? Well, let me tell you a little story about “you just can’t make this up”. It all begins with a roll-call vote on HB 7424 about our state’s budget in both the House on June 3 and the Senate on June 4, 2019 of the Connecticut General Assembly where the Majority legislators voted YES to a new state law Public Act 19-117, Section 183 (page…
I am in a self-reflective mood this evening in need of God’s wisdom and guidance. Why? I’m in deep thought about parent rights, particularly Black parents and the erosion of their Constitutional rights and of Black children and the total dismissal of their educational rights and social emotional well-being. We, as Black parents are crying entirely too many tears of desperation in our daily struggle for educational justice. In addition, a dear friend of mine just passed away a few…
Are there superior and inferior races in public education?
It’s been 65 years since the Supreme Court ruled in the historic Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka decision that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. That landmark ruling, the outcome of 13 courageous black parents’ challenge to an unjust public education system, was a milestone in the civil rights struggle. But if you thought the battle to end discrimination against black and Hispanic kids in public schools was won, guess again: Communities are still being fractured by…
5, 4, 3, 2, 1…Happy New Year! That was the collective chant across the globe twenty-four hours ago. Sad to say, yesterday, January 1, 2019 marks the end of the holiday season of goodwill towards all. The gifts of love that appeared abundant, since November 2018, will fade fast, especially for vulnerable children. As the saying goes, we are back to business as usual. While many slept in late yesterday and recouped from the new year eve celebrations, many Connecticut…
Today I carry no title other than human being. Yes, I am a proud Black woman and a mom but I am still mentally reeling from and dealing with so many tentacles of raw emotion from my visit last week to the Legacy Museum and National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery, Alabama. They represent America’s first national memorial dedicated to victims of racial terror lynching and a new museum dedicated to slavery and its legacy, lest we forget….
As a Black mom, aka mama bear, and an education advocate for equity and educational justice, I often reflect on Black history. Why? Because I am afraid if we do not learn from the past, as a people and as a country, we risk bringing back Jim Crow hidden in neatly packaged 21st century laws. And I, for one, will not accept that for my children, your children or the generations to come. These Black history reflective moments have…
Hey parents and guardians of children, many of us are experiencing some serious anxiety right about now, because once again, we are in back to school mode and primary/general election season. This means, as parents and guardians, it is our absolute unapologetic right and responsibility to ensure every education decision-maker, and those running for public office remember that our children’s safety, the quality of their education and their overall well-being is a priority. And THAT is non negotiable. “Children should…
In 2010, I learned about the California Parent Trigger law introduced by retired Senator Gloria Romero. This California parent empowerment law gives parents the legal power to improve the educational experiences of their children. As a result of this California parent empowerment law, I was awakened to “hope” for Connecticut marginalized children, knowing that there was a law on the books that can now help black parents, like me, help our children who are trapped in schools that cannot or…