Inequities in education marginalize women, particularly black women. The YCWA and VAST (Valley Against Sex Trafficking) held an online event in February to examine how these issues affect young adult black women. Jen Wanisko of the YWCA and Heather Evans of VAST facilitated the event. The Bethlehem Area School district was well represented. A good number of Lehigh University staff and students were also in attendance.

Called Push Out, the session centered on the film “Push Out: The Criminalization of Black Girls in Schools.” The film profiled three young black women, and their struggles in school. It also examined the role of early physical maturation on young black women, from the understanding that though a young black girl at 7 or 8 may look far more physically mature, she is still a child, and should be understood and handled as one.

One poignant story was of a girl who was in second grade when she was bullied by a teacher, and was left alone in a classroom while her classmates went to recess. The child, upset, left the building, and wandered across a freeway, into a nearby Walmart. The staff at the Walmart contacted authorities, but when asked how old the child was, the staff misidentified her as a middle school age child. They were instructed to leave her alone. She wandered back toward her school, and eventually was found by her father, who was on his way to her school after being notified she was missing.

The other two students featured were older students who ended up in alternative programs.

Another issue is a lack of black teachers. In 1910, there were 60,000 black teachers. With desergregation, black teachers lost work at traditionally black schools, and were not hired at desegregated schools. Currently, just 7 percent of teachers in the U.S. are African American.

This deficit leads to cultural and systemic disparities. How do white teachers understand where their black students are coming from?

“When we don’t focus on black girls, the community suffers. Some of the issues are over-punishment, and the misunderstanding of black girls. As the oldest child, you might be in charge of caring for your siblings. If you are late for school, it might be because of additional responsibilities at home. As a teacher, you can’t offer sympathy, but you can try to understand.”

Following the film, the 172 participants, mainly Bethlehem Area School District staff and Lehigh University staff and students, were placed in three breakout groups for discussions.

Dr. Benita Draper, the BASD supervisor for Early Learning, Grants, and Development, said the school district has a formal program for guiding students to careers in education, with the theme of “grow your own.” She spoke of the desire to increase the number of black and brown educators.

Some BASD staff noted that the hybrid schedule, with its smaller class sizes, is offering them more time to build connections with their students.

Another guest noted that black girls with disabilities are often disciplined instead of being supported, so there is disability discrimination as well as racial discrimination.

Asked how white people no longer in education can be allies, Lehigh University Bennet Professor of Urban School Leadership, Dr. Floyd Beachum said “join in the conversation where you are.”