From The Mind of Dr. Mack T. Hines

Throughout my career, I’ve been continuously asked, “Do students of color need teachers of color to succeed in schools?” My answer has always been the same-Yes.

Black students need Black teachers. Hispanic students need Hispanic teachers. Asian students need Asian teachers. The rationale for this need is that teachers of color can often relate to students of color in unique ways.

An extended way of understanding this uniqueness is as follows:

1.Like students of color, teachers of color have often experienced various forms of racialized inequality during their schooling experiences.

2. Unlike White teachers, teachers of color are more likely to see race as a significant part of the identities of students of color. In addition, they are more likely to use race as starting point for becoming culturally responsive to these students

3. Teachers of color possess a positive familiarity with the cultural backgrounds of students of color. As a result, they are more likely than White teachers to see the mannerisms and expressions of their students as assets instead of deficits.

The significance of these statements are not about the politics of identity. These statements convey the significance or viewing the need for school through a representational lens.

We live in a country that presents all racial groups as a cultural dish of universal equality, brotherhood, and unity. But truth be told, the official representation of America is unequivocally White-White people, White Culture, White Traditions. This leaves little room for cultural representation to reflect the needs and experiences of non-White people.

Of all the places to promote diversity in race representation, the school is one of the most important places. The reason is that other than the home, schools imbue students with the confidence to pursue achievement. It’s one thing for students of color to experience school success. But to be supported by teachers of color in the pursuit of excellence is to be raised to a higher level of self-worth and self-esteem.

As a former student of color, I can attest to the power of these experiences in shaping the ways in which students of color see themselves as people.

Can you?