Have You Ever Had a Black Teacher?

As a diversity trainer, I often hear confessions about unconscious biases from participants in my courses. Recently, during a training session on managing unconscious bias for a group of recruiters, a White man opened up about interviewing Black candidates for leadership roles. He confided that he found it easier to interview Black candidates, stating, ldquo;I just feel less intimidated by Black candidates than White ones.rdquo; He admitted, ldquo;It makes me feel bad, but I want to ask you about it. I don’t know what it is.rdquo; This simple statement resonates deeply with the challenges we face in recognizing and overcoming unconscious biases.

One of the significant factors contributing to this issue is the presence—or rather, the absence—of Black teachers in educational settings. Our first exposure to authority figures often occurs in elementary and secondary schools, where the people leading us shape our perceptions and beliefs. This is why many of us have a fundamental difficulty recognizing Black people in positions of authority. It’s a problem that is particularly ingrained in childhood and persists into adulthood due to a lack of diverse role models.

Black Male Teachers: An Underrepresented Group

Research and personal experiences suggest that Black male teachers are significantly underrepresented. In the United States, for instance, a Black male teacher is relatively rare. The lack of such role models can perpetuate stereotypes and hinder the development of positive attitudes towards Black leaders.

Personal Anecdotes

Here are a few personal stories shared by individuals who participated in my training sessions:

Participant A

Participant A had several Black teachers, including Mrs. Allen in 5th grade, Mr. McClain for math in 8th grade, Mr. Graham for biology in 6th grade, and Mrs. Ramsey for English in 11th grade. It is interesting to note that while Black female teachers were more common, Black male teachers were far less prevalent, particularly for White students.

Participant B

Participant B, however, has never had a Black teacher. They commented, ldquo;Unfortunately, no. Never. Not in any of the countries I’ve lived in, which is a lot.rdquo; They added, ldquo;I’ve seen them in America, but was never lucky enough to have them as a teacher.rdquo;

Participant C

Participant C had quite a few Black teachers, both male and female, up to high school. They noted, ldquo;Quite a few. Should it have been a problem, I had quite a few white teachers as well. Oh—they were men and women. Don’t ask about their sexuality. I didn’t care and it didn’t matter.rdquo; This reflects a broader issue of diversity and the importance of recognizing all teachers, regardless of gender or race.

Addressing Unconscious Bias

The findings from these personal stories highlight the importance of increasing the representation of Black teachers in schools to combat unconscious bias. By providing students—especially White students—with diverse role models, we can help them develop more positive attitudes towards Black leaders and authority figures.

Conclusion

Recognizing and addressing the lack of Black teachers in our schools is crucial. It is a fundamental step towards breaking down unconscious biases and promoting inclusivity. As a diversity trainer, I encourage everyone to reflect on the importance of diverse role models and to advocate for the inclusion of Black teachers in educational settings.