The Anti-DEI Crowd is Anti-Black Educator

Every child deserves an excellent education—every child.

That’s a principle, presumably, no one would argue with, and I’ve spent my entire career working toward it. Yet, critiques of culturally responsive education and the work to diversify the teaching field often frame these efforts as a distraction from “real learning,” creating a false and, frankly, lazy dichotomy between academic excellence and equity.

The truth? The work we and so many of our fellow educators do isn’t a departure from the fundamentals of education—it’s about raising the bar and meeting the needs of all students and families.

Parental choice, high expectations, and career readiness. No one side of the partisan divide or location on the political spectrum owns those values or goals.  

Parents deserve to be presented with all options and able to choose schools that meet their children’s unique needs.

Truly advocating for parents' rights means empowering families to choose schools that meet their children’s academic, social, and personal needs. It also means advancing policies that enable such schools to exist, whether in downtown Philadelphia or rural Oklahoma. 

For Black and Brown families, this means schools where their children are not only challenged academically but also supported by educators who have the cultural competency to connect with them and hold high expectations for them. It means classrooms where their children’s experiences and identities are affirmed. 

Does DEI Mean Lower Expectations?

High Expectations are at the very center of all we do.

There is nothing more fatal to the success of Black children than expecting less of them. 

I’ve seen, fought against, and developed solutions to counteract it. The Center for Black Educator Development's response is grounded in the rich tradition of Black pedagogy. It is premised on rigor and unwavering support.

Students thrive when they’re taught by educators who believe in them, educators who see in them the excellence that they may not be able to see themselves. Students grow when teachers understand their backgrounds, upbringing, and the communities they call home. Even conservative researchers acknowledge this. So, let’s stop pretending there’s a trade-off here. Excellence and culturally responsive education aren’t opposites; they’re two sides of the same coin.

Does DEI Take The Place Of Career Readiness? 

Critics claim culturally responsive education ignores the basics, but our work at the Center for Black Educator Development provides powerful evidence that this is not the case. Through career-connected learning and tailored pathways—call it Career and Technical Education that works for all communities—we’re exposing Black youth to the teaching profession. 

Just 7% of teachers are Black, and only a fraction of those are Black men. Too few Black students see teaching as a potential career, not because they lack talent but because they’re often not invited into the profession. We and scores of leaders nationwide are changing that through grow-your-own efforts and more intentional introductions to the incredible teaching career for Black and Brown youth.

Our work isn’t some abstract theory or aspiration; it’s about building fundamental skills, creating real opportunities, and preparing young people for success in the real world. It’s about giving Black and Brown youth real-life skills they can use in a real career in teaching. 

Is DEI Too "Woke"? Does It Fly In The Face Of Traditional Values?

And then there’s the charge that culturally responsive education is somehow out of step with “traditional” values. Really? We stand for families, empowering parents, and preparing students for success.

What part of that contradicts anyone’s values–traditionalist, conservative, or anyone else?

Parents want their children to succeed academically and to be supported in their learning environments. They want their schools to deliver on the promise of high expectations and real-world readiness. That’s precisely what we’re doing. Being more responsive to parents is, purportedly, what’s at the center of advocacy around groups with significant problems with the curriculum being taught, books in school libraries, and more.

When parents say their children need instruction that’s anti-racist, culturally affirming, and grounded in high expectations, are those voices any less valid?

If you truly stand with parents, then you should stand with all parents—including those demanding better for Black children.

You can be conservative and forward-thinking.

You can uphold traditional values while embracing approaches that ensure every child has the tools to succeed.

What you can’t do is claim to champion parents, children, and excellence while dismissing the solutions that make those things a reality.

We’re here to create excellence in education and to ensure every child—every single child—has the opportunity to succeed. We should be on the same side if you truly believe in those goals.

Let’s stop creating false choices, forcing lose-lose trade-offs, and start focusing on what matters most: delivering the world-class education all of our children deserve—which includes a stronger, more protected, predictable, and effective Black Teacher Pipeline.