I have learned a great deal since I wrote and presented a TED-Ed talk about the importance of educators being advocates. I now realize, on a deeper level, how much we need both advocates AND allies in order to positively change our world. And I now realize that not everyone has the freedom and/or security to be an advocate.
Growing up, my parents strongly believed that children should be seen but not heard. As a child, I was given the pejorative nickname “the mouth” because I did not ascribe to this adage. I had questions about everything, and I spoke up when things did not seem right or fair. My first action as an advocate resulted in getting beaten with a belt; I was approximately three years old and had questioned the fairness of a rule. Ever since, almost every single action of mine as an advocate has resulted in some sort of punishment. I have been assaulted, ostracized, kicked, spit on, called names, yelled at, beaten up, harassed, attacked with false accusations, given a traumatic brain injury, received countless pieces of hate mail and death threats, and fired- all as a direct result of my advocacy.
But none of these attempts to silence me have worked.
Necessity of Advocacy
There are people in our country who are discriminated against, not given what they need to thrive, harassed, beaten up, unfairly incarcerated, kept in cages, prematurely and unfairly kicked out of our schools (and our country), and killed.
Similar to teaching, advocacy can be exciting, terrifying, fulfilling, painful, and empowering. When you stand up for and with others, you are communicating that you hear them and that they matter.
As the 2018/2019 Minnesota State Teacher of the Year, I was given a platform that not everyone has. Because I was supported by my spouse, employers, state organizations, friends, and students, I didn’t turn down the chance to respectfully protest and communicate my concerns about the words and actions of the Trump Administration: Jessica Dueñas and I were the first State Teachers of the Year to ever boycott a visit with President Trump at the White House, and I chose to kneel during the National Anthem at the National College Football Championship game in New Orleans when I shared a field with President Trump and the First Lady.
Countless humans have reached out and thanked both Jessica and me for standing up for historically marginalized and oppressed humans. However, like so many other advocates, we have been the recipients of some people’s hatred and xenophobia.
Risks of Advocacy
Many advocates have been (and still are) “punished” for their advocacy. Having the support of others makes it possible to keep doing this work. I have learned a great deal since I wrote and presented a TED-Ed talk about the importance of educators being advocates. I now realize, on a deeper level, how much we need both advocates AND allies in order to positively change our world. And I now realize that not everyone has the freedom and/or security to be an advocate. Some educators are responsible for financially supporting family members, and the loss of a job would impact more than just themselves. There are even some educators who could be killed for standing up for others in their communities. I respect that folks need to evaluate for themselves which types of advocacy are safe for them to engage in and which types are not. They need to weigh the benefits versus the potential costs of engaging in advocacy. There are physical, professional, and personal side effects involved with being an advocate.
Even though I am more motivated by the potential cost of my silence than the cost of my advocacy, and would rather face the consequences of standing up for others than deal with the guilt of doing nothing at all, I now understand that this is not a realistic philosophy for every educator to live by.
However, as Glen Coleman, a New Jersey social studies teacher, recently informed me that even though he does not have the courage to be an advocate, he does have the courage to stand with other advocates. For some it is courage and for others it is security and/or freedom of expression. But advocates can not endure without the support of allies. We need them on our team, and their work matters, too.
The Need for Allies
There are a myriad of ineffective strategies that some folks employ to silence advocates. Those who try and sabotage the efforts of advocates who are not matching their personal agendas - are missing out on the opportunity to work together. People who don’t take the time to understand the complicated nuances of advocacy work and spread misinformation, misperceptions, unfounded accusations, and ungrounded assumptions are causing harm. And folks who attempt to manipulate others by creating false narratives and inventing logical fallacies are being abusive. Taking the time to find out the truth and investing energy into discovering the intentions behind the actions of advocates is an effective way to avoid these pitfalls.
Advocacy can often be isolating work. We can be misunderstood, attacked, and abused. And we are often the subject of other people’s hate and/or insecurity. I strive to be an ally for other advocates whenever possible because I know how lonely it can feel. I recently reached out to the administrator of an urban Minnesota middle school who is being verbally attacked for flying a rainbow flag in her school. I was also given the opportunity to speak in her defense at a school board meeting.
Advice for Allies
Jess Davis, 2019/2020 Minnesota State Teacher of the Year and math teacher at South St. Paul High School, teaches so many of us how to better support black, indigenous, and people of color in our school systems, but she says she could not do her work without allies.
“It is important to understand the cultural tax people of color pay in our current system, especially in the educational arena to close the opportunity gap and create safe spaces for students. The burden of the work should not always (nor solely) fall on the shoulders of those being marginalized,” Davis says. “It is greatly appreciated when my allies intentionally take some of the responsibility of elevating student voices and advocating for the needs of marginalized populations off my plate.”
When I chose to kneel at the College Football National Championship Football game as President Trump and the First Lady stood yards away, Davis kneeled with me in her Minneapolis home. She chose to pay that cultural tax by helping me research and prepare for that moment. Having allies in my life helps me to have the courage and the endurance to cope with the negative side effects of being an advocate. Their emotional support is powerful and healing.
Erin Murphy, candidate for Minnesota Senate and former Majority Leader of the Minnesota House of Representatives, asks for support from her allies:
“Share your support when something goes right. Saying, in your own way, why is it important to you. And taking it one step further and sharing it with another person in the neighborhood or community.” requests. “We can build deeper connections and restore our faith in our government, in our politics, if we share what is going right when it does, that will strengthen our democracy and make more possible.”
The work of allies to support their communities can be life changing. As an LGBTQ+ human, the folks who have supported and celebrated my identity, have helped me to feel like I matter. And when people reach out to tell me that they appreciate something I did, it helps to drown out all of the fear and hatred.
Mara Glubka, Director of Transforming Families, guides us all on how to be better allies for transgender humans:
“I wish that people could move their image of a trans person from an adult whose appearance or voice makes them uncomfortable to one of an innocent child who knows who they are as early as they know if they’re right-handed or left-handed. Letting kids be who they say they are and letting them block an unwanted puberty means that those things that make people uncomfortable will largely be eliminated while, in many instances, saving lives.”
Glubka reminds us to not underestimate how much impact our reactions and behaviors can have on our transgender and gender nonconforming students and that owning and repairing our implicit and explicit biases can make a significant difference on the lives of others.
Heather Olson, a special education teacher at a MN Correctional Facility, courageously reveals her vulnerability as an advocate:
“As an advocate I ask for grace and patience. I believe in education and I am deeply committed to it being accessible to ALL students. That being said - I am still learning and growing too. It helps to receive support and information in a safe space,”. “My heart and intent are there - I may stumble with words and actions but if people can help guide me, I will continue to move ahead for my students. I am learning new routes, languages and norms. At times it is confusing and overwhelming but I keep going because I want to create a better path for my students.”
I think it can be easy to assume that advocates are always confident and impenetrable. But this is not the case. We, too, can be the victims of prejudice and discrimination. When you stand up for people who are being marginalized and/or oppressed, many of those who benefit from existing systems of oppression will directly come after you. When we, as advocates, have allies who stand with us then everyone benefits.
