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6 Leaders Pushing for Fair Education

SACRAMENTO OBSERVER — Majority-Black school districts continue to be underfunded and underrepresented in policy making. And Black students still continue to be over-policed; one Black student even went to court after his school expelled him for wearing locs they thought were too long.

Published

6 months ago

December 9, 2024

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By Aziah Siid | Word In Black | The Sacramento Observer

(WIB) – It’s been a tough year to be Black in education.

Red states like Florida, Texas and Idaho have passed strict new laws restricting how teachers can teach Black history. Conservative school districts kept important works of Black literature, like Toni Morrisson’s “The Bluest Eye,” off library shelves. White parents browbeat school officials to keep lessons about systemic racism out of the classroom because they said it would make white kids feel guilty.

Meanwhile, majority-Black school districts continue to be underfunded and underrepresented in policy making. And Black students still continue to be over-policed; one Black student even went to court after his school expelled him for wearing locs they thought were too long.

Still, there were champions who stood up and pushed back on behalf of Black students in 2024, trying to compel the country to fulfill its promise of a quality education for all. Here are six leaders in education pushing for equal education:

1. Denise Forte

A fierce advocate for disadvantaged students, Denise Forte is leading the fight for racial equity in schools, creating high-quality learning environments and pipelines for higher education. Her vision: every student has a shot at academic success in a supportive, welcoming learning environment.

Denise Forte, president and CEO at The Education Trust (photo courtesy of Ed Trust website)

The president and CEO of the nonprofit Education Trust, Forte, has a deep knowledge of education policy, honed during her time as a Capitol Hill staffer and serving in the Department of Education during the Obama administration.

Ed Trust, she says, “is mission-driven: we believe Black and Latino students, students from low-income backgrounds, students with disabilities, and English learners deserve a quality education, because it is their best opportunity to thrive.”

2. Dr. Tracie Anderson Swilley

Leading a school of around 660 students, all while mentoring assistant principals to ascend to principalship, Dr.Tracie Anderson Swilley, is a foot soldier in the movement for equitable education.

Under her leadership over the last 13 years, Fairﬁeld Central High School in Winnsboro, South Carolina, has seen tremendous improvement in math, reading, and record graduation rates. Math proﬁciency for Black students skyrocketed from 46% to 74%, reading jumped from 60% to 76%, and the graduation rate reached a record 90.1%.

Despite teaching low-income students — the entire class of 2024 is eligible for free and reduced lunch — every member was accepted into an institution for higher education. But her fight for education equity isn’t over.

Swilley told Education Week she wants to see more women of color, like herself, in school leadership roles, and bring attention to the unique obstacles they face in education.

3. Randi Weingarten

WASHINGTON, DC – SEPTEMBER 18: The PFLAG National Flag Bearer Award recipient Randi Weingarten, President, American Federation of Teachers attends PFLAG National’s “Love Takes Justice” Event Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images for PFLAG National)

“The most dangerous person in the world is Randi Weingarten.”

That’s the opinion of Mike Pompeo, former secretary of state and C.I.A director during former President Donald Trump’s first term. He saw Weingarten, a diminutive, 65-year-old leader of the American Federation of Teachers, the influential national teachers union, as a threat because of her decades-long fight to bring fairness and equity to education.

A fierce advocate for diversity and inclusion in public education, Weingarten is a frequent target of conservative politicians, who accuse her of indoctrinating kids with, “dangerous academic constructs like critical race theory and radical gender theory are being forced on elementary school children.” as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis put it.

That hasn’t deterred Weingarten, a former educator, attorney and NAACP board member, from standing up for her 1.7 million members and the children they teach. And she challenged the second Trump administration — and Linda McMahon, Trump’s nominee to lead the Education Department, to take similar care if and when she is confirmed.

“Will Linda McMahon support us as we teach students to read? Will she protect kids and families, so that everyone in a school feels welcome and can learn?”

4. Becky Pringle

Becky Pringle at an Oakland rally (photo courtesy of NEA website)

As leader of the nation’s largest teacher’s union, Becky Pringle wields considerable influence in national politics. But she defines herself as a mother and grandmother to public school children who cares about education. She takes that charge seriously, using her clout to improve the quality of teaching, boosting student achievement and creating safer, better learning environments.

When the pandemic shuttered the nation’s schools, for example, Pringle helped to focus the nation’s attention on how COVID-19 lockdowns laid bare racial and economic inequities in education that have existed for generations — inequities that Pringle herself encountered as a student. Her fight, she says, is to eliminate those problems for the next generation.

5. Sharif El-Mekki

Sharif El-Mekki, center, led the annual Black Men Educators Convening in Philadelphia (Photo by Anaz X)

Studies have proven that Black children are more likely to succeed when the teacher at the head of the class looks like them. Yet some 80 percent of the teacher workforce is white and female.

Therefore, the mission of Sharif El Mekki, president and CEO of the Center for Black Educator Development, is simple: reverse that trend and put more Black teachers at the chalkboard.

A forceful personality, El-Mekki is a former teacher and administrator in west Philadelphia, one of the city’s toughest areas. As leader of a nonprofit, however, his goal is to rebuild the national Black Teacher Pipeline..But he wears more than one hat.

Besides his scholarly work training up Black teachers, El-Mekki has launched efforts like The Fellowship—Black Male Educators for Social Justice, monitors the pulse of the ‘hood through Philly’s 7th Ward blog, and hosts the 8 Black Hands podcast.

6. Stacy Davis Gates

Another former educator, Stacy Davis Gates, president of the Chicago Teachers Union, also serves in several leadership roles in teachers’ unions. She’s executive vice president of the Illinois Federation of Teachers, vice president of the American Federation of Teachers, and chair of United Working Families, a progressive political organization.

Davis Gates is currently on leave from the classroom, where she taught high school social studies for over a decade at Englewood, Clemente and Mason Community Links High Schools.

The CTU represents nearly 30,000 teachers, paraprofessional and school-related personnel, and school clinicians working in the Chicago Public Schools and, by extension, the students and families they serve.

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#NNPA BlackPress

Black Feminist Movement Mobilizes in Response to National Threats

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — More than 500 Black feminists will convene in New Orleans from June 5 through 7 for what organizers are calling the largest Black feminist gathering in the United States.

Published

4 days ago

May 30, 2025

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

More than 500 Black feminists will convene in New Orleans from June 5 through 7 for what organizers are calling the largest Black feminist gathering in the United States. The event, led by the organization Black Feminist Future, is headlined by activist and scholar Angela Y. Davis. Paris Hatcher, executive director of Black Feminist Future, joined Black Press USA’s Let It Be Known to outline the mission and urgency behind the gathering, titled “Get Free.” “This is not just a conference to dress up and have a good time,” Hatcher said. “We’re building power to address the conditions that are putting our lives at risk—whether that’s policing, reproductive injustice, or economic inequality.” Hatcher pointed to issues such as rising evictions among Black families, the rollback of bodily autonomy laws, and the high cost of living as key drivers of the event’s agenda. “Our communities are facing premature death,” she said.

Workshops and plenaries will focus on direct action, policy advocacy, and practical organizing skills. Attendees will participate in training sessions that include how to resist evictions, organize around immigration enforcement, and disrupt systemic policies contributing to poverty and incarceration. “This is about fighting back,” Hatcher said. “We’re not conceding anything.” Hatcher addressed the persistent misconceptions about Black feminism, including the idea that it is a movement against men or families. “Black feminism is not a rejection of men,” she said. “It’s a rejection of patriarchy. Black men must be part of this struggle because patriarchy harms them too.” She also responded to claims that organizing around Black women’s issues weakens broader coalitions. “We don’t live single-issue lives,” Hatcher said. “Our blueprint is one that lifts all Black people.”

The conference will not be streamed virtually, but recaps and updates will be posted daily on Black Feminist Future’s YouTube channel and Instagram account. The event includes performances by Tank and the Bangas and honors longtime activists including Billy Avery, Erica Huggins, and Alexis Pauline Gumbs. When asked how Black feminism helps families, Hatcher said the real threat to family stability is systemic oppression. “If we want to talk about strong Black families, we have to talk about mass incarceration, the income gap, and the systems that tear our families apart,” Hatcher said. “Black feminism gives us the tools to build and sustain healthy families—not just survive but thrive.”

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Hoover’s Commutation Divides Chicago as State Sentence Remains

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Hoover was convicted of murder and running a criminal enterprise. Although some supporters describe him as a political prisoner, the legal and public safety concerns associated with his name remain substantial.

Published

5 days ago

May 29, 2025

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

The federal sentence for Gangster Disciples founder Larry Hoover has been commuted, but he remains incarcerated under a 200-year state sentence in Illinois. The decision by Donald Trump to reduce Hoover’s federal time has reignited longstanding debates over his legacy and whether rehabilitation or continued punishment is warranted. The commutation drew immediate public attention after music executive Jay Prince and artist Chance the Rapper publicly praised Trump’s decision. “I’m glad that Larry Hoover is home,” said Chance the Rapper. “He was a political prisoner set up by the federal government. He created Chicago Votes, mobilized our people, and was targeted for that.”

But Hoover, the founder of the Gangster Disciples, is not home—not yet. Now in federal custody at the Florence Supermax in Colorado, Hoover was convicted of murder and running a criminal enterprise. Although some supporters describe him as a political prisoner, the legal and public safety concerns associated with his name remain substantial. “There is a divide in the Black community here,” said Chicago journalist Jason Palmer during an appearance on the Let It Be Known morning program. “Some view Hoover as someone who brought structure and leadership. Others remember the violence that came with his organization.” Palmer explained that while Hoover’s gang originally formed for protection, it grew into a criminal network responsible for extensive harm in Chicago. He also noted that Hoover continued to run his organization from state prison using coded messages passed through visitors, prompting his transfer to federal custody.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who is widely considered a potential 2028 presidential contender, has not issued a statement. Palmer suggested that silence is strategic. “Releasing Hoover would create enormous political consequences,” Palmer said. “The governor’s in a difficult spot—he either resists pressure from supporters or risks national backlash if he acts.” According to Palmer, Hoover’s federal commutation does not make him a free man. “The federal sentence may be commuted, but he still has a 200-year state sentence,” he said. “And Illinois officials have already made it clear they don’t want to house him in state facilities again. They prefer he remains in federal custody, just somewhere outside of Colorado.”

Palmer also raised concerns about what Hoover’s case could signal for others. “When R. Kelly was convicted federally, state prosecutors in Illinois and Minnesota dropped their charges. If a president can commute federal sentences based on public pressure or celebrity support, others like R. Kelly or Sean Combs could be next,” Palmer said. “Meanwhile, there are thousands of incarcerated people without fame or access to public platforms who will never get that consideration.” “There are people who are not here today because of the violence connected to these organizations,” Palmer said. “That has to be part of this conversation.”

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WATCH: Five Years After George Floyd: Full Panel Discussion | Tracey’s Keepin’ It Real | Live Podcast Event

Join us as we return to the city where it happened and speak with a voice from the heart of the community – Tracey Williams-Dillard, CEO/Publisher of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.

Published

6 days ago

May 28, 2025

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https://youtube.com/watch?v=OsNLWTz6jU0&feature=oembed

May 25, 2020. The world stopped and watched as a life was taken.

But what has happened since?

Join us as we return to the city where it happened and speak with a voice from the heart of the community – Tracey Williams-Dillard, CEO/Publisher of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.

She shares reflections, insights, and the story of a community forever changed. What has a year truly meant, and where do we go from here?

This is more than just a date; it’s a moment in history. See what one leader in the Black press has to say about it.

Recorded live at UROC in Minneapolis, this powerful discussion features:

Panelists: