Black parents have EVERY reason to want to protect their children – sometimes their lives depend on it. That’s what happened with 10-year-old Isabella “Izzy” Tichenor, a fifth-grader in Utah who took her own life after relentless, racist bullying!
Between racism, bullying, and the ongoing pandemic, public schools are often unsafe environments for Black students. And as a result, an increasing number of Black families are taking matters into their own hands to protect their children.
Homeschooling is helping many Black families protect their children’s mental health.
The pandemic catapulted many families into remote learning – which subsequently benefited some Black students by shielding them from racist teachers, schools, and peers.
After pandemic restrictions lifted, some parents have refused to send their children back to school. In October 2020, 16% of Black students were homeschooled!
This trend doesn’t show any signs of slowing down. Through homeschooling, Black families are rejecting Eurocentric viewpoints and incorporating Black history into their lessons. Additionally, many parents consider homeschooling a safer alternative to public schools.
We don’t need white institutions to educate our children. Since the days when they refused to, we’ve always educated ourselves. We must continue to lean into that sense of self-determination for the betterment and liberation of Black communities.