By Rae Norman
In our previous post, we outlined the history of Freedom Schools. Today, we’ll dive into the ongoing legacy of Philadelphia, part of a long line of efforts to liberate people from oppression. One descendant of the original Freedom School is the “Freedom Schools Literacy Academy,” (FSLA) run by the Center for Black Educators. The ethos of this four-week summer program is that “teaching is activism.” While 1st through 3rd graders are provided with “literacy intervention and an affirming space that celebrates their culture and racial identity,” students in high school and college also have the opportunity to become educator-activists by mentoring younger students. These young adults receive professional development and training “steeped in Black culture, history and pedagogy.” As the FSLA website states, Black students are likely to do better in school when they have Black teachers. Likewise, Black high school and college-age individuals are much more likely to pursue teaching careers when they have Black educator-activists as coaches.
Sharif El-Mekki, the Founder of the Center for Black Educators, draws parallels between the Center’s mission and the Freedom Schools established by the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) in the 1960s. "When Charlie Cobb introduced Freedom Schools, he emphasized the interconnectedness of voting rights, education, land justice, and economic justice," El-Mekki notes. Social justice, he says, has many components, “almost like fiber optic lines. It's all within that one line, but there’s a bunch of smaller pieces— there's no disconnect in our way of thinking.”
Reflecting on his own educational journey, El Mekki recalls that throughout high school and college, what he was taught “didn’t involve a way of understanding the world centered on our experience.” This realization fueled his commitment to creating spaces where Black students could see themselves reflected in the curriculum. The core mission of the Center for Black Educator Development is to build a Black teacher pipeline, recognizing the profound impact Black teachers have on all students and the broader educational ecosystem. "We believe Black teaching traditions can save America," El Mekki says, by bringing in a sense of humanity to education, and providing a “positive racial identity [...] not as a separate thing, but as part and parcel of the work.”
Ansharaye Hines, the Assistant Director of the Center’s High School Programming, grew up attending the Philadelphia Freedom School in the summer months. Her journey from student to educator is a testament to the enduring impact of the Freedom Schools. She dreams of “reaching a critical mass of a national movement of young people who are moving on education issues and shifting the educational institutions toward their objectives.”
Students at the Freedom Literacy Academy continue to demonstrate agency and action. While some organizations would reach out to a marketing firm for a slogan, El Mekki says, the Center spoke to their youth to figure out what resonated with them. They coined the slogan "We need Black teachers."
“I thought it would be something with smoke screens,” El Mekki laughs, but the students insisted that they didn’t want a flashy slogan that could distract from their demands. He was impressed by their clarity and dedication, “not only that they needed this, but that they wanted to become educators to support the next generation.” He connects this to the Black teaching tradition of ‘lifting as we climb,’ ensuring future generations have access to both tradition and opportunities.
"We believe in inviting people to solve the problems they are facing," El Mekki explains. This philosophy mirrors the Freedom School tradition, where students were taught to see themselves as part of the solution to systemic issues that have resulted in the decimation of the Black teacher pipeline, despite not having created these problems.
El-Mekki and Hines’ efforts are far-reaching. This summer, the Center has been engaging 100 high school and college-aged Black youth in exploring teaching careers, while their fellowship program will support 55 Black teacher pipeline fellows, providing them with financial support as they matriculate through college. The Center continues to advance the legacy of the Freedom Schools, advocating for an education system that honors and uplifts Black students and teachers. This work not only addresses the immediate need for more Black educators, but also envisions a transformative impact across the entire educational landscape.
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