Gwen Samuel

“Any situation in which some men prevent others from engaging in the process of inquiry is one of violence;… to alienate humans from their own decision making is to change them into objects.” Paulo Freire As a Black mom with children in public schools, it troubles me to learn that you, Reverend Al Sharpton, have just declared war against Black, brown and poor parents who choose to put the safety, education and overall wellbeing of their children and all children…

Read More Read More

While many were celebrating the 4th of July with hamburgers, hotdogs, fireworks and good ole fashioned apple pie, I was rereading Frederick Douglass’ speech of July 5, 1852, “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?” and applying it to the state of education for Black, brown and poor children in America. You might ask why wasn’t I out celebrating the 4th today. And all I can say is it’s because the status quo protectors and oppressors #StayWoke too. They don’t…

Read More Read More

  Shirley Chisholm said  “There is little place in the political scheme of things for an independent, creative personality, for a fighter. Anyone who takes that role must pay a price.” Since losing my son in a fatal car accident last year, every day, my emotional capacity is tested; and every day, I make a vow to give up fighting this overwhelming battle for education justice. That’s because too many people, even people who look like me, are too quick to…

Read More Read More

Black parents have enough to worry about just by virtue of having a black child. We worry about our black babies’ safety every day when they leave the house, whether they are walking or driving. In addition, we worry about their safety; physically, mentally and emotionally, when they attend school, regardless of school model. So it should go without saying that many black parents do not have time for this distracting “divide and conquer” strategy with this whole business about…

Read More Read More

When the courts get it right and side with justice, such as with Brown v. Board of Education of 1954, parents of color and/or poor and marginalized communities seized the moment to ensure educational equality for all children. When the law was enforced children of color and/or the poor thrived; when the law was not enforced, children of color and/or the poor struggled to survive. Sixty-two years later, on September 7, 2016, Hartford Superior Court Judge Thomas Moukawsher ruled in…

Read More Read More

It is Back to School month, and while parents like me should be getting into gear for back to school activities, this black mom finds herself weary, heavy-hearted and angry. If you feel the need to call this the “Diary of an Angry Black Woman” or the “Blog of an Angry Black Mom”, because the only way you know how to describe a black woman is with a label – then do you “-boo-boo” – because this Black parent, will…

Read More Read More