Journal of a Black Teacher

If you’re convinced by CNN that President Donald Trump is the bogeyman, think again: DEI has always been our bogeyman. By Don Allen, Journal of A Black Teacher (2025) Nuance leaders, not afraid of looking in the blind spots from the beginning, knew that DEI efforts were nothing but folly. Today, in light of President Donald Trump’s executive order against diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, major companies and organizations have killed their DEI rollouts. In recent years, the buzzwords “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)” have been plastered across mission statements, websites, and glossy brochures throughout Minnesota. In the wake of Black men and women being murdered by law enforcement, institutions scrambled to position themselves on the “right side of history,” pledging their unwavering commitment to dismantling systemic racism and fostering inclusion. Yet, as the dust settles, and you look only at the data, it’s becoming increasingly evident that for many organizations...

A book review of Cultivating Courage - Innovative Strategies for Developing a Critical Equity Leadership Identity by Dr. Lanise S. Block and Dr. Naomi R. Taylor. APA Citation : Block, L.S. & Taylor, N.R. (2025). Cultivating courage - Innovative strategies for developing a critical equity leadership identity . MindStir Media. www.mindstirmedia.com . ISBN-13: 978-1-963844-56-6. By Don Allen, Ed. S., M. A. Ed., MAT - Doctoral Candidate (Ed.D.) Hamline University (2025), Superintendent Licensure (2024); Principal Licensure (3/2025)      In C ultivating Courage-Innovative Strategies for Developing a Critical Equity Leadership Identity (2025), Dr. Lanise S. Block and Dr. Naomi R. Taylor bring the needed framework of equity-focused leadership; Gervase R. Bushe brings a very fine thread of connection between themes through Clear Leadership  (2010); and Michael Fullan and Joanne Quinn connect with this thought even further in The Drivers: Transforming Learning for Stude...

While sweeping the garage one day, I found myself instinctively starting from each corner, pushing the pill of ‘stuff’ toward the center. Seemingly such an act of meaninglessness, it brought into view a brilliant observation of leadership and organizational dynamics that I would later conceptualize as the Theory of Corners. Just as dust usually accumulates and is never cleaned out from the corners of a space, so too are blind spots in organizations, those areas where inefficiencies, inequities, and unspoken truths reside. I realized then that nuanced leadership means venturing into the metaphorical corners, addressing the hidden challenges, and moving them toward the center for systemic growth and transformation. This theory shaped my leadership philosophy. By Don Allen, for Journal of A Black Teacher (2025) Nuanced leadership is an art form often drowned out by loud voices, rigid hierarchies, and unwavering allegiance to the status quo. These are the leaders who dare to dwell in the ...