Journal of a Black Teacher

Fanon (Franz) would argue that the struggle extends beyond mere access to another's system of meaning; it encompasses the pursuit of entirely new systems. In this light, the absence of Black bodies at No Kings Day is not merely a void; it serves as a silent manifesto. By Don Allen for Journal of A Black Teacher (2025) When we explore these photos from the so-called "No Kings Day" festival, lit with parades, costume wear, and street festivals, what becomes noteworthy is not only the massive number of white participants, but also that this spectacle contrives to reinforce a sense of monarchy and nobility aesthetic that was historically denied to black people. It is therefore no surprise that to many black people on these shores, this festival feels peripheral, even alienating. Fanon declares that "the colonial world is a world cut in two" - an exclusion that moves well beyond the material, to the structural and psychic levels. In other words, African people in Ame...

In the Twin Cities and across the nation, public education has been plagued by what can only be described as passionate incompetence. This phrase captures the disconnect between good intentions and ineffective outcomes. Over the past five years, administrators have rolled out initiative after initiative, promising transformation: new literacy models, equity frameworks, technology rollouts, social-emotional curricula, and testing reforms. Each was championed with passion, urgency, and rhetoric about “student-centered change.” Yet, despite the energy and resources poured into these programs, the results are precise: proficiency rates remain stagnant, achievement gaps persist, and families, teachers, and communities continue to feel the weight of systems that do not deliver. Passion without competence is no solution, and the failures of these past half-decade reforms demonstrate that schools cannot afford more recycled promises dressed up as innovation. What is required now is competence,...

By Don Allen for Journal of A Black Teacher The First Amendment has always been America's shield and its sword. But recently, its shield has begun to bend at the pretense of selective outrage, and its sword is only brought out when it is convenient to do so. Take two recent controversies. Jimmy Kimmel is a satirist who has pushed the boundaries of his comedy and has been canceled, losing his late-night show. What did he do to become intolerable? Did he tell a joke a little bit too close to home? Or was it merely that when comedy attacks the wrong power structure, it shifts from being simply entertainment to being seen as a "threat"? While the why is relevant, what really hits is the chilling effect: comedians are left wondering whether being funny is now a liability. At the same time, an employee of Hennepin County joked about the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk on her Facebook page and went further to issue a dangerous call to violence. In my opinion, her lan...

Classroom Discussion Questions: Put students in small groups or discuss as a whole class : Why do you think leaders like King, Malcolm X, and Newton were targeted by violence? How does political violence affect communities beyond just the leader who was killed? What lessons from these leaders can we apply to our lives today? Can love, unity, and service really be stronger than violence? Why or why not? How can young people carry forward the unfinished work of these leaders? By Don Allen, Ed.S., M.A.Ed., MAT  Black teachers shoulder a profound responsibility in today’s society. Our children are growing up in an environment where violence is a pervasive reality, manifesting itself through various forms—whether it stems from governmental actions, extremist groups, or even within our own neighborhoods. Failing to address this harsh reality leaves our young people ill-prepared to navigate the complexities and dangers of the world around them. By engaging in open and honest discussions a...

By Don Allen - Journal of A Black Teacher  I write as a Black American who has attended too many funerals. Too many mothers are fainting in church pews. Too many kids are learning the cadence of gunfire as a lullaby. And the real truth is this: it is or might very well be about guns, but it is most definitely about the individuals who use them and choose to kill. Let’s be clear, guns are everywhere in this country. Easy to buy, easy to hide, easy to pull out in anger.  The United States has more guns than people. If access were the only problem, then mass shootings in white suburbs and rural areas would look like the everyday reality of Black neighborhoods. But they don’t. We know who dies in disproportionate numbers: young Black men, women, and children who never got a chance to grow up. That’s not a statistic, it’s an obituary waiting to be written. But where is the national outrage? Where are the same government officials who wail for gun bans after a shooting in Minneapoli...

"...If we treated education the way we treat sports, failing leaders wouldn't survive a season. Coaches who can't win get fired. Players who don't produce get pushed harder to improve. But in education, the most important playing field of all, we tolerate failure year in and year out."  By Don Allen, Journal of A Black Teacher  Walk into most Twin Cities schools today, and you'll see gleaming new lockers, polished hallways, and floors freshly waxed. They gleam like museum pieces of what "progress" is supposed to look like. This also depends on the location of the school. I had a friend who said his classroom was mopped twice in the 2024-2025 school year. His building served African American students in one of Minneapolis’ poorest neighborhoods. But scratch below the surface and you'll find that too many children still cannot read at grade level, do basic mathematical calculations, or pass science benchmarks. The truth is unavoidable: children di...