A new UC Berkeley study explores how being a “strong black woman” affects the health of African American women coping with racial discrimination. (AP photo by Ivan Gener) The stereotype of the “strong black woman” is more than just a cultural trope: Many black women in America report feeling pressured to act like superwomen, projecting…
It was only a few short weeks ago that a tweet from Madonna labeling COVID-19 “the great equalizer” went viral. Echoing high-profile elected officials such New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, this framing of the global pandemic quickly drew sharp criticism. With overwhelming evidence regarding racial and class disparities in terms of both lost lives and lost livelihoods as a result…
Though the high school graduation rate for public school students has increased in recent years, racial disparities still exist. According to the U.S. Department of Education, the national graduation rate reached an all-time high of 82 percent in school year 2013-14, with 73 percent of African American students graduating in four years. While graduation rate…
2. Focus on content, not comprehension skills. Once students show up, the next question is what to teach. At the elementary level, some districts are having teachers stick to reading and math, making social studies and science optional—the same approach many schools take in face-to-face settings. If possible, teachers should resist that pressure. Hours spent practicing reading comprehension…
BLACK DOCTORS, NURSES AND OTHER HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS SHARE WHAT THEY WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT WHAT’S HAPPENING ON THE “FRONT LINES.” They often leave their shifts to the sounds of applause. People line up in lobbies and on streets across the United States to cheer for them—to show gratitude for their service. At 7…
Welcome to “Transforming Teaching and Learning,” a column that explores how colleges and professors are reimagining how they teach and how students learn. If you’d like to receive the free “Transforming Teaching and Learning” newsletter, please sign up here. *** What a difference a week makes. Seven days ago in this space, I went out of…
Wednesday afternoon, 14 college presidents from around the country gathered in front of their computers. On their screens they saw their peers, along with Vice President Mike Pence and U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, who asked what they needed to reopen their campuses in the fall. The presidents spoke about the need to be able…
by Vivianne Castillo Over the past few months I’ve had quite a few inquiries from young black women who are starting their careers in tech. They’ve been asking for advice related to working in the industry, navigating through corporate, and flourishing in the workplace. Out of the belief that black women can learn from each…
Quick Facts SIGNIFICANCE:Educator and activist PLACE OF BIRTH:Orange, VA DATE OF BIRTH:1879/1880 PLACE OF DEATH:Washington, DC DATE OF DEATH:1961 Around 1880, Nannie Helen Burroughs was born to a formerly enslaved couple living in Orange, Virginia. Her father died when she was young, and she and her mother relocated to Washington, DC. Burroughs excelled in school…
Was there ever a time when your voice wasn’t being heard? During the 19th and 20th centuries, Black women played an active role in the struggle for universal suffrage. They participated in political meetings and organized political societies. African American women attended political conventions at their local churches where they planned strategies to gain the…