Hey, white educators, stop your doom-scrolling and reset your algorithm in a way that can reduce your biases.
If you follow Black teachers and education activists, I promise several things will happen: You'll discover life perspectives entirely different from your own, learn about historical and current events you otherwise would be ignorant of, and have an opportunity to inject new insights into your classroom instruction.
Why do this? You're a leader of young minds, and this simple step will improve your ability to connect with Black students who might never have a teacher with a shared life experience. It's a fact that Black educators help their colleagues teach Black and Brown students more effectively and help all students improve. However, because it's depressingly unlikely a white teacher will ever have a Black colleague, we can at least look to social media as sort of a substitute teacher.
Influencers like Rachel Cargle, Dr. Bettina Love, Bryan Stevenson, Ernest Crim III, Conscious Lee, Akil Parker, David Johns, Marie Beecham, Kahlil Greene, Dwayne Reed, and Britt Hawthorne (just to name a few …) regularly discuss structural inequities and share strategies to make education more inclusive and effective for all students.
Black education activists bring personal and professional perspectives highlighting how race and bias impact students’ educational experiences.
For instance, Cargle is an author and activist who frequently shares posts on historical perspectives and anti-racist education designed to reveal how past injustices continue to shape present-day biases. These social media conversations can inspire a process of introspection, urging educators to reflect on how their attitudes may inadvertently affect students of different backgrounds.
In the process, your eyes will be opened to the role of the three "Ps" in your life and teaching: privilege, power, and positionality.
Dr. Bettina Love, author of We Want to Do More Than Survive, explores how teachers can commit to what she calls “abolitionist teaching.” She encourages educators to go beyond standardized curricula to recognize and dismantle structures that perpetuate inequality.
Teachers like Conscious Lee, known for his presence on TikTok and Instagram, offer quick, digestible lessons on topics like Black history and cultural awareness. Lee and others provide examples of inclusive teaching strategies that white educators can adapt to their classrooms.
Listening to these voices exposes teachers to specific actions they can take, like evaluating curriculum content for diverse representation or adopting new classroom management techniques that honor students' cultural backgrounds.
Engagement is also an essential part of the anti-bias process. Interacting with posts and joining discussions allows educators to move beyond a passive learning role.
White teachers can join online communities that center Black voices in education, where they can learn from others committed to equity and seek feedback. Eventually, you can bring your newfound confidence in empathizing with people of different life experiences into your school's staff room, board meetings, and community events.
Finally, I cannot emphasize this point enough: Consistent social media engagement also holds educators accountable. Addressing bias is not a one-time task but an ongoing responsibility.
Ernest Crim III is an educator, speaker, and activist known for his work in anti-racist education and Black history advocacy. He uses his platform to educate audiences on historical context, social justice, and systemic issues affecting Black communities. A former history teacher, Crim gained prominence after he recorded an incident where he experienced a racial slur, subsequently using this experience to launch conversations around racial tolerance and education. Today, he’s widely recognized for using platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter to share Black history facts, advocate for educational equity, and challenge racial biases.
Conscious Lee, also known as George Lee, is an educator, social commentator, and advocate for anti-racism and social justice education. His content breaks down complex social issues around race, privilege, and systemic inequality into accessible language for a broader audience. Known for his thought-provoking videos on TikTok and Instagram, he encourages critical thinking and civic engagement.
Akil Parker is a mathematics educator and founder of All This Math, a platform dedicated to teaching math literacy through a lens that acknowledges the African American experience. Parker's mission is to make math accessible and culturally relevant, with an emphasis on economic empowerment and critical thinking skills among Black students.
David J. Johns is the executive director of the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) and a former White House advisor on African American education. He advocates for racial and LGBTQ+ justice, focusing on intersectional issues within education and public policy. Johns frequently discusses the importance of inclusive education, mental health, and policies supporting Black and LGBTQ+ youth.
Marie Beecham is a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) speaker who focuses on anti-racism education and allyship. Through her social media platforms, she provides resources, reflective questions, and practical steps for individuals and organizations aiming to create more inclusive environments. Beecham’s content is mainly geared toward encouraging white audiences to become active allies.
Kahlil Greene, known as the "Gen Z Historian," is a Yale graduate and digital educator who teaches about Black history, systemic racism, and social justice. Greene uses platforms like Instagram and TikTok to unpack historical narratives and their ongoing impact on contemporary society, making history accessible and relevant to younger audiences.
Dwayne Reed, known as “Mr. Reed,” is an educator, rapper, and advocate for culturally relevant teaching. His creative approaches to education, including viral rap videos, emphasize the importance of reaching students through engaging and culturally aware methods. Reed's content encourages educators to make learning fun and meaningful for all students.
Britt Hawthorne is a nationally recognized anti-bias and anti-racism educator. She supports teachers and parents in fostering environments that embrace diversity and encourage critical thinking about race and equity. Through her content, Hawthorne provides strategies and resources for raising and teaching children with an understanding of social justice.
Rachel Cargle is a writer, activist, and founder of the Loveland Foundation, which provides mental health support and therapy resources for Black women and girls. She is also a well-known public speaker on topics of anti-racism and intersectional feminism. Cargle’s social media platforms are filled with educational content aimed at dismantling systems of oppression and encouraging accountability in allyship.
Dr. Bettina Love is an award-winning author and professor of education at Teachers College, Columbia University. She is a leading voice in anti-racist and abolitionist education. She is particularly known for her book We Want to Do More Than Survive, which advocates for what she calls "abolitionist teaching." Dr. Love’s work focuses on inspiring teachers to resist oppressive systems within education and instead foster environments that allow students to thrive.
Bryan Stevenson is a lawyer, social justice activist, and founder of the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI). Known for his work advocating against mass incarceration and racial injustice, Stevenson has dedicated his career to defending marginalized communities and challenging excessive punishment in the U.S. criminal justice system. His influential book Just Mercy highlights his work with incarcerated individuals, and he frequently speaks on the connections between education, racial justice, and social reform.